The commander at Marine Corps. Base Quantico in northern Virginia says a shooting in which a Marine killed a male and female colleague before killing himself was isolated to a single building.

The Marine Base Quantico, spokesman Lt. Agustin Solivan briefs reporters following a shooting incident on the base Friday March 22, 2013. (AP Photo/Matthew Barakat) The Associated Press  

QUANTICO, Va. (AP) — The commander at Marine Corps. Base Quantico in northern Virginia says a shooting in which a Marine killed a male and female colleague before killing himself was isolated to a single building.

Base commander Col. David W. Maxwell told reporters Friday that authorities were called to the scene around 10:30 p.m. Thursday where they found one person dead at a barracks. They later found a second victim dead, along with the body of the suspected shooter, who died of a self-inflicted gunshot wound.

A base spokesman initially described the situation as a standoff. Maxwell said later in the morning that there was no standoff.

Base spokesman Lt. Agustin Solivan later clarified that after the first shooting, police had the shooter "isolated" in a barracks dorm room.

A Grafton man police say was driving between 80 and 100 miles per hour when he crashed into another vehicle, killing two teenagers, has been sentenced to up to nine years in prison.

WORCESTER, Mass. (AP) — A Grafton man police say was driving between 80 and 100 miles per hour when he crashed into another vehicle, killing two teenagers, has been sentenced to up to nine years in prison.

Robert Curran was sentenced Thursday after pleading guilty to charges including vehicular homicide in connection with the October 2011 crash in Worcester.

Authorities say Curran had been drinking before the crash and fled the scene after being examined by an EMT responding to the accident. He was arrested at a hospital where he had gone to seek treatment for injuries. He did not face any alcohol-related charges.

The crash killed 18-year-old Andres Guzman and 19-year-old Joel Rodriguez. A third person was seriously injured.

The Telegram & Gazette (http://bit.ly/Yt0wXe) reports that Curran's lawyer says her client is remorseful.

___

Information from: Telegram & Gazette (Worcester, Mass.), http://www.telegram.com

House Speaker Robert DeLeo has opened an investigation into “serious allegations” against another unnamed member of the House after a State House employee brought an unspecified complaint to House counsel, the speaker’s office confirmed on Thursday night.

Rep. John P. Fresolo, D-Worcester Handout  

By Matt Murphy and Andy Metzger
STATE HOUSE NEWS SERVICE

BOSTON - House Speaker Robert DeLeo has opened an investigation into “serious allegations” against another unnamed member of the House after a State House employee brought an unspecified complaint to House counsel, the speaker’s office confirmed on Thursday night.

A spokesman for DeLeo told the News Service that House counsel Jim Kennedy brought the allegations made by a House employee against the lawmaker to the attention of DeLeo two weeks ago.

The speaker had counsel conduct a preliminary review, and found “sufficient cause” to warrant a full investigation, according to the statement from DeLeo’s office. DeLeo last Friday directed the House Committee on Ethics, chaired by Rep. Marty Walsh, to “fully investigate the allegation,” according to spokesman Seth Gitell.

“In order to protect the integrity of the Ethics Committee investigation, Speaker DeLeo will have no further comment on this matter,” Gitell said in an emailed statement.

Walsh could not be reached for comment Thursday night.

Though it’s unclear whether it might be related, Worcester radio host Jordan Levy reported Thursday afternoon that Worcester Democrat Rep. John Fresolo would resign within 48 hours, a claim Fresolo denied to the News Service.

Reached at home, Levy said he heard from two sources that Fresolo would resign “because of some ethical problems.”

Contacted by the News Service, Fresolo would only say that he has no intention of stepping down.

“I’m going to hang up now, but I want you to know I am not resigning,” Fresolo said during a brief conversation.

Fresolo was elected to his eighth term in the House of Representatives last November, representing the 16th Worcester district. He sits on the House Ways and Means Committee, the Joint Committee on Housing and the Joint Committee on Labor and Workforce Development.

The alleged victim told federal agents that "Mike" had identified himself as a 37-year-old soccer coach and she disclosed her true age in exchange.

This story was updated at 7:03 p.m. to include details from the initial hearing.

Michael Dupont

A complaint drafted by a U.S. Homeland Security agent states Michael W. Dupont, 37, of Chicopee, was urging underage youths on "Teenchat" to pose nude in front of a video webcam. Investigators say he received sexually explicit photos from at least five girls over the Internet and frequently described himself to federal agents as "a lonely guy."

Arrested at his home on Thursday morning, Dupont appeared in U.S. District Court in athletic pants and a hooded sweatshirt. He will be held until a detention hearing on March 25. Dupont has yet to be charged formally so he was not arraigned on the charges.

Mark Dupont, spokesman for the Roman Catholic Diocese of Springfield, said the church was “shocked” to hear the news. Dupont, no relation to Michael Dupont, said there were no allegations against the former coach during his tenure at the school.

In a statement, the diocese’s spokesman said church officials will start meeting Friday with parents of the school’s soccer players. He said the bishop has pledged full cooperation with investigating authorities.

Law enforcement officials in Vermont were alerted when the mother of girl (named only Minor A in the complaint) discovered inappropriate emails on her 14-year-old daughter's computer in late December.

The girl told federal agents that "Mike" had identified himself as a 37-year-old soccer coach and she disclosed her true age in exchange.

"Minor A stated that Mike repeatedly asked to see her (genitals) and to 'put on a show,' and she displayed her (genitals) to him on numerous occasions."

Most recently, Dupont sent an email to Minor A's account on March 17, according to the complaint, that read: "hi ... hugs u ... kisses u,,,:)

Agents searched Dupont's home and his computer on Thursday before he was arrested.

According to the complaint, Dupont admitted urging Minor A to send him nude photos over the Internet and pose nude for the webcam.

The charge carries a 15-year-mandatory minimum prison sentence.

The diocese’s spokesman, said in a statement that Michael Dupont’s employment contract with the school ended in November. “So he was not currently employed by the school.”

In the statement the diocese's spokesman said:

"Like all employees of the diocese, its parishes, schools and institutions, he (Michael Dupont) underwent the normal screening, (state Criminal Offender Records Information) and child abuse prevention training procedures. He likewise signed a code of conduct.

"Working with the United States Attorney's Office, school and diocesan officials will be meeting with parents, faculty and students, starting with parents of soccer players tomorrow and then early next week with the larger school community.

"The Bishop has pledged full cooperation with law enforcement officials in regards to their ongoing investigation. He also asks the prayers of the entire community for those whose lives are tragically victimized by these actions."

George R. Moreau, a Chicopee city councilor and member of the Holyoke Catholic board of trustees, called the situation a “sad state of affairs” Thursday night.

“It is no reflection on the school which is well run,” Moreau said. 

Upstairs at the federal courthouse on State Street Thursday, two men wearing shirts that identified them as agents of U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) sat behind Michael Dupont and George Kelly, a lawyer who said he was a family friend and representing Dupont only during this initial hearing. Assistant U.S. Attorney Steven H. Breslow represented the federal government.

"This is your initial appearance," U.S. District Court Magistrate Judge Kenneth P. Neiman told Dupont. "The purpose of the initial appearance is to tell you what your charge is, when you'll next appear in federal court."

Neiman asked Dupont if he understood the charge against him. Dupont said yes. Neiman asked if Dupont had taken alcohol or drugs or anything that might impair his ability to understand what was happening during the initial hearing, and Dupont said no.

Neiman explained to Dupont that because he had yet to be charged formally, he wouldn't be asked whether he was pleading guilty or not guilty.

A hearing set for Monday at 2 p.m. in the same courtroom will determine details of Dupont's detention and a court-appointed lawyer, Neiman said.

"Do you know where he's going to be held?" Neiman said.

"No," said one of the ICE agents.

Catholic Diocese lawyer Stephen E. Spelman attended the hearing but referred questions to Mark Dupont.

The 1.7-mile second phase of the project will connect to about 1.7 miles of a multi-use trail along River Road and be available for use by hikers as well as pedestrians.

 

AGAWAM – Now that the City Council has agreed to accept 75 easements, the $2.4 million second phase of the Riverwalk Loop project can continue to move forward, according to Planning and Community Development Director Deborah S. Dachos.

Dachos said Wednesday the project is on track for a groundbreaking this summer or fall.

The City Council approved the easements by an 11-0 vote Monday.

“I’m appreciative the council unanimously supported the project,” Dachos said. “It is extremely necessary that improvements be made because School Street is currently unsafe for bicyclists and pedestrians.”

“All in all it is a worthy project, a good project for the town,” City Council Robert E. Rossi said, explaining it will be good for people who want to bicycle back and forth to School Street Park. He also said it has the advantage of not being paid for with local tax dollars as it is funded by the state.

Rossi seconded the motion by City Councilor Cecilia P. Calabrese to authorize accepting the easements.

The 1.7-mile second phase of the project will connect to about 1.7 miles of a multi-use trail along River Road and be available for use by hikers as well as pedestrians. There will be bicycle lanes on both sides of School Street.

Long-term plans call for the creation of what will be a 5-mile loop on Main Street from Route 57 to River Road.

Another section of the loop involving River Road, School Street and Main Street will be created as part of the $4,239,000 Main Street Improvement project, which will start sometime this spring.

Dachos said that of the 75 easements, 60 will be temporary and needed only during the construction of the second phase of the River Walk Loop project. Fifteen of the easements will be permanent.

Thirty-six of the easements were donated, eight involved city land and 29 had to be purchased by the city at a total cost of $58,052. That money will come from the city’s Chapter 90 state highway funds.

The state will pay for and oversee construction of the project.

The second phase of the project will connect to 1.7 miles of multi-use trail along in use along River Road.

Work on the second phase of the River Walk Loop began in 1998, when the Manchester, Conn.-based Fuss & O’Neill began designs under contract with the Pioneer Valley Planning Commission.

Austin, who will be paid $45,000 a year, is a graduate of West Springfield High School.

Randall Austin  

Randall A. Austin  

WEST SPRINGFIELD – The assessors office has filled the slot of deputy assessor with a Montgomery man who was most recently employed as the principal assessor of the Berkshire County community of Dalton.

Forty-eight-year-old Randall A. Austin started work for the city Monday at pay of about $45,000 a year. Austin’s job will be to assist Principal Assessor Hans Doup.

“I’m happy because I feel it (West Springfield) is my hometown,” Austin said during an interview Friday in the assessors office.

A graduate of West Springfield High School, Austin said he grew up in West Side.

Austin had been Dalton’s principal assessor since September 2012. He said taking the job in West Springfield represents a step up for him as the position in Dalton was for 32 hours a week at about $38,000 a year. The job in West Springfield is full time.

Austin began work for the city as a data collector for the assessors office in August.

“It was my foot in the door here and I got to know the staff,” Austin said.

He also started work as an assessor in Montgomery in 2002.

“Randall brings over 13 years of assessing experience to the town. He is a very capable and qualified individual,” Doup said.

The city is able to hire Austin as deputy assessor because of the recent retirement of department clerk Frances Rahilly, according to Doup. The official said the city has budgeted for three clerks and a principal assessor, but with Rahilly’s retirement is able to swap her old job for that of deputy assessor. Creating the post of deputy assessor was a recommendation of a study done about eight years ago, Doup said.

From 1997 to 2011, Austin was employed with Cambridge Credit Counseling Corp., where he held a variety of positions. Among them were housing counseling manager as well as creditor services and relations manager. He was laid off by Cambridge in 2011.

Austin is expected to assist Doup in such areas as tax abatements and exemptions as well as help the city make sure all its property values are at full value in keeping with state law.

Austin is enrolled at Holyoke Community College, where he plans to get a two-year degree and than transfer to the University of Massachusetts at Amherst with the goal of majoring in business administration.

Westfield Barnes Regional Airport worried that fighter jets couldn't safely share the facility with general aviation.

Brian Barnes, manager of Barnes Regional Airport in Westfield, is seen in the atrium of the airport administration building with the runway and control tower in the background. John Suchocki / The Repubican file  

WESTFIELD - Federal sequestration budget cuts will not result in the elimination of the air traffic controllers at Barnes Regional Airport as had been previously feared.

Closing that tower would have left amateur pilots going about 100 miles an hour in propeller-driven planes sharing the runways and the airspace with Massachusetts Air National Guard F-15 jets traveling six times as fast, said Maj. Matthew Mutti, executive officer of the 104th Fighter Wing.

To make matters worse, Air National Guard pilots use different radio frequencies from most pilots and the two groups would have had trouble talking to each other.

"It would have created a significant risk for both our pilots and the for the civilian aviators who fly out of the airport," Mutti said Friday. "We have to scramble quickly. Day or night. No one would have known another airplane was there until it was too late."

The Air National Guard, along with all military units, is still facing cutbacks from sequestration. Barnes Air National Guard Base see a 10 percent cut in its economic impact, or the loss of about $5 million a year from its $53 million annual budget About 250 civilian technicians at the 104th would face furloughs.

Brian P. Barnes, the airport manager who coincidentally shares a name with the facility, said the tower was saved only because the city could make a national -security argument for keeping it open. The FAA said it would not take economic impacts.

"We could have operated as an uncontrolled airfield," Barnes said. "It would have been difficult to coordinate."

The 104th is charged with providing air security along the eastern seaboard from Maine to Washington, D.C., Barnes said. In other terms, that means Barnes protects a quarter of the American population and a third of the U.S. gross domestic product.

"It was an easy case for us to make," Barnes said.

Not that the economic impact of Barnes is insignificant. There are about 65,000 takeoffs and landings a year and just 16 percent of that traffic is military. The airport has an annual economic impact of $181 million a year creating 2,100 jobs and $60 million in payroll.

And Gulfstream Aerospace Corp. is in the process of doubling its air traffic in and out of Barnes. The company's new $23 million, 125,000-square-foot maintenance hangar opens in April. The company has more than doubled its staff in Westfield to about 250 workers in the expanded facility. Gulfstream plans to use it to maintain newer and larger private jets for its globe-trotting customers.

"You have people with Gulfstream flying $60 million aircraft and one of the reasons they came here was that we have a fully-staffed tower," Barnes said.

Mutti said the Army National Guard also has Blackhawk helicopters stationed at Barnes. Those choppers do fire suppression, search-and-rescue and drug interdiction work.

As it stands now, the Barnes tower is open from 7 a.m. to 10 p.m. 7 days a week and staffed with a rotating staff of five controllers hired through a federal contractor, Barnes said. There is one or two contractors in the tower when it is open.

About a month ago, the Federal Aviation Administration announced plans to close towers staffed by private contractors at 189 airports across the country. The move would have saved $637 million, the FAA said at the time.

Friday, the FAA said 24 airports across the country, including Westfield, had been spared.

The FAA still plans to close towers at Worcester, Beverly, New Bedford, Lawrence and Norwood in Massachusetts and Bridgeport, Danbury, Groton-New London, Harford-Brainard, New Haven and Oxford in Connecticut.

Bradley International Airport in Windsor Locks will not be impacted, according to the FAA list.

The medical device industry is a major business in Massachusetts.

An amendment to repeal the medical device tax included in Democratic President Barack Obama’s health care reform passed the Senate on Thursday evening with support from both Massachusetts Senators.

According to the Wall Street Journal, Republican Sen. Orrin Hatch of Utah introduced the amendment with the support of U.S. Sen. Elizabeth Warren, a Massachusetts Democrat. Both Warren and Democratic Massachusetts Sen. Mo Cowan voted for the amendment, which passed 79 to 20.

All five of those who hope to succeed Cowan, the interim senator temporarily holding John Kerry's seat, also say they oppose the tax.

The vote was largely symbolic, since the bill it was attached to will not pass the House. But it does show the resistance of some Democrats to a provision of Democratic President Barack Obama’s health care reform. Every Republican and 33 Democrats voted to repeal the tax. The tax was included in the Affordable Care Act in order to fund expanded access to health insurance without adding to the deficit.

Warren wrote an op-ed for the MassDevice website last year stating her opposition to the tax, which would impact Massachusetts businesses. She wrote that in Massachusetts, the medical device and diagnostics industry employs around 24,000 people and is responsible for 13 percent of all state exports.

“When Congress taxes the sale of a specific product through an excise tax, as the Affordable Care Act does with medical devices, it too often disproportionately impacts the small companies with the narrowest financial margins and the broadest innovative potential,” Warren wrote. “It also pushes companies of all sizes to cut back on research and development for life-saving products. With an appropriate offset, we can repeal the medical device tax without cutting health care coverage for millions of people or forcing Americans to fight the whole health care battle all over again.”

Massachusetts Republican Party Chairwoman Kirsten Hughes put out a statement Friday asking Democratic Senate candidate and U.S. Rep. Edward Markey to oppose the tax. “For once in his career, Ed Markey should stop taking orders from the far-left fringe of his party, stop acting like the congressman from Maryland and support a commonsense proposal to save Massachusetts jobs,” Hughes said. “This tax has already destroyed the jobs of Massachusetts families while thousands more hang in the balance.”

Markey voted for the Affordable Care Act while his Democratic primary opponent Stephen Lynch voted against it. (Lynch has said he supports the ideas behind reform, and has opposed efforts to repeal the Affordable Care Act.)

Markey said in a statement that he does oppose the tax. “I am concerned about the impact that the device tax could have on the medical device industry and job creation in the Commonwealth," he said. "I opposed the inclusion of this tax in the House health care reform bill. I would support repealing the tax, as long as the revenue replacing it does not impact middle-class families or their health care benefits.”

A Lynch spokesman said Lynch also supports repeal of the medical device tax.

While the health care reform law was being worked on, Markey, Lynch and other members of the Massachusetts congressional delegation wrote a letter to Democratic House Speaker Nancy Pelosi expressing opposition to the medical device tax because of its impact on Massachusetts. “It would jeopardize both scientific innovation and job growth, and its readily foreseeable consequences lead to a long-term increase in cost and decline in quality of health care as it chills the development of new lifesaving technologies,” they wrote.

When a bill came up in the U.S. House that would have repealed the medical device tax, Lynch signed onto it as a cosponsor, while Markey did not. Both Markey and Lynch voted against a bill that would have repealed the medical device tax and made additional changes to laws governing flexible spending accounts. (Markey’s spokesman said Markey did not sign onto one repeal bill because it did not say how the repeal would be paid for, and opposed the other bill because it included an offset that would have reduced health care tax credits for low and middle income families.)

All three Republican Senate candidates – former U.S. Attorney Michael Sullivan, State Rep. Daniel Winslow, and private equity investor Gabriel Gomez – said they would vote to repeal the medical device tax.

Defense lawyer Aaron W. Wilson said in his opening argument Leary will testify Laduzenski jumped out in front of his truck, which is the same thing Leary told police the night of the crash on Dewey Street.

SPRINGFIELD - West Springfield police officer David Gawle testified Friday David Laduzenski was standing still when a truck struck him in March 2011.

Gawle took the stand in the second full day of testimony in the trial of Daniel Leary, 37, of Southwick, who is charged with motor vehicle homicide while under the influence of alcohol and negligent or reckless driving for the crash that killed the 29-year-old Laduzenski.

Defense lawyer Aaron W. Wilson said in his opening statement Leary will testify Laduzenski jumped out in front of his truck, which is the same thing Leary told police the night of the crash on Dewey Street.

Gawle testified the truck Leary was driving hit Laduzenski after its passenger side traveled on lawns and driveways for about 95 feet, and after the truck struck down two mailboxes.

For about 10 of those feet the driver’s side tire scraped the curb of the street while the passenger side tire left tracks on the lawn, he said.

The prosecution is arguing Laduzenski was not in the road when hit. Laduzenski had just left a small get-together at 461 Dewey St.

Gawle said he could not establish the exact point of impact. But, he said, he could tell the area of impact with Laduzenski was after the mailboxes were run over because of where the debris from damage to the truck was located.

He said there was no evidence of heavy braking or evasive driving such as swerving.

Much of the focus of the first day and a half of the trial in Hampden Superior Court was on the crash scene.

But Friday afternoon, the thrust of the testimony turned toward Leary’s arrest, field sobriety test at the West Springfield police station, and his Breathalyzer test.

Testimony is scheduled to continue on that subject Monday.

Assistant District Attorney Melissa G. Doran said Leary’s blood alcohol was .19, which is more than twice the legal limit of .08.

West Springfield Police Capt. Thomas Wilkinson, under cross examination by Wilson, said strict proper protocol was not followed in administering the Breathalyzer test.

He said protocol calls for the officer who administers the breath test to observe the person for 15 minutes before.

Wilkinson said officer Patrick Dunphy, who administered the breathalyzer test, did not observe Leary for 15 minutes before the test.

Wilkinson said he observed Leary himself for an appropriate amount of time to see that Leary did not vomit, eat or belch within 15 minutes of the test.

Those acts, which alter alcohol in the mouth, can affect Breathalyzer results, Wilkinson said.

Wilkinson, as well as officers Jason Douglas and Nicole Hebert Beaupre testified they deemed Leary was intoxicated when he was brought to the station after the crash and booked.

Laduzenski, who lived in Somerville but was visiting his parents in his hometown of West Springfield, died two days after the March 25, 2011, crash without ever regaining consciousness.

Again Friday, about 80 people packed the courtroom with Leary’s family and friends on one side and Laduzenski’s family and friends on the other.

On Thursday, officer Brian Duffy had testified Leary failed a field sobriety test at the crash scene. Douglas testified Leary failed another field sobriety test at the police station.

Wilson disputed that finding by Douglas, questioning why he decided Leary failed the test. The test involves walking toe to heel in a straight line, standing on one foot and counting, and reciting part of the alphabet.

James Dent owns stores at malls in Holyoke, Worester, Springfield, Hadley and Lanesboro.

This is an updated version of a story posted at 2:30 this afternoon.

 

In this 2004 file photo, James M. Dent shows some of the Red Sox and Yankee items for sale in one of his stores. Don Treeger / The Republican file  

BOSTON - A Western Massachusetts and Worcester stores' owner has agreed to plead guilty to selling thousand of items of counterfeit sports apparel from four major professional leagues between 2010 and 2012, according to a plea agreement in U.S. District Court in Springfield.

James M. Dent, 51, of Chicopee was charged with purchasing the counterfeit sports apparel from companies in China, including team jerseys from the Boston Celtics, Boston Red Sox and New England Patriots and then re-selling them to customers, according to court documents.

In a five-count document, he was charged with trafficking in counterfeit goods.

A year ago, he was quoted in a web article that cautioned consumers against buying counterfeit sports clothing, court records said. Dent was quoted as saying it could be difficult for consumers to differentiate between the counterfeit and genuine apparel items and that the genuine items were more expensive because of licensing fees charged by the professional leagues, court records said.

He sold the counterfeit apparel from the National Hockey League, the National Football League, Major League Baseball and the National Basketball Association in his central and Western Massachusetts stores including the Sports Zone at the Holyoke Mall and the Greendale Mall in Worcester and Collectibles and Cards in the Berkshire Mall in Lanesboro, the Hampshire Mall in Hadley and at the Eastfield Mall in Springfield, the U.S. Attorney's office said in a prepared statement issued Friday.

According to the plea agreement, Dent has agreed to waive indictment and plead guilty. He is set to pay $6,000 fine, make restitution of $37,475 and pay a forfeiture or money judgment in the amount of $200,000, the agreement said.

A prosecutor will also recommend a jail sentence at or below the low end of sentencing guidelines, as calculated by the parties, the plea agreement said. A judge is not bound to accept the terms of the plea agreement.

Dent is scheduled to plead guilty at 3 p.m. on May 8 in front of U.S. District Judge Michael A. Ponsor in Springfield.

Dent was charged in an "information," a document that indicates a guilty plea is imminent.

The maximum penalty is 10 years in prison, to be followed by three years of
supervised release and a $250,000 fine.

The U.S. Patent and Trademark Office maintains trademarks on its principal register for apparel bearing the logos of the leagues and teams of the NHL, NFL, MLB and NBA.

Dent first began purchasing counterfeit merchandise through other means in approximately 2007, court records said.

Dent was aware that he was selling counterfeit merchandise that bore marks that
were identical to or indistinguishable from the genuine marks trademarked by the NHL, NFL, MLB and NBA and the teams associated with those leagues, court records said.

Dent mixed counterfeit and genuine apparel together in his stores, and sold the
items for substantially the same price, in an attempt to deceive his customers into believing that the counterfeit apparel was genuine, according to court records.

He also sold items of inferior quality that were improperly labeled, for a lower price than genuine items, court records said.

He knew that the price of the items was an important indicator of authenticity
for customers, and understood that licensing fees were part of the cost of authentic items, court records said.

Dent was quoted in an Feb. 2, 2012 article on the website for station WGGB-TV, abc40 and Fox 6 in Springfield titled “Thinking about Sporting Your Super Bowl 46 Team Colors? Make Sure to Avoid the Phony Factor.”

Dent was quoted as saying: “What we tell people is that’s why a lot of stuff is so expensive. Because the licensing fees you have to pay the NFL, MLB, all the different sports venues…” Dent explained why counterfeit materials were cheaper: “It’s not licensed material, that’s why it is so cheap.” Dent noted that “it could be very hard” for a customer to tell the difference between genuine and counterfeit goods.

Dent and his lawyers could not be reached on Friday.

Queen Latifah speaks before a crowd of 2,000 at the MassMutual Center. Watch video

SPRINGFIELD — While droves of people lined up to take photos with her, Queen Latifah wriggled out of her designer heels and shrunk about 5 inches to accommodate her shorter fans.

"Is that better?" she asked women posing with her for pictures before her talk at Bay Path College's 18th annual Women's Leadership Conference held at the MassMutual Center Friday.

In a very candid talk that lasted over an hour Queen Latifah discussed her regrets, her struggles being full-figured and one of the few female rappers of her time, her promise to her mother to go back to school if her career failed and much more.

"I love being in environments with women doing their own thing. It feels so much different, so much more loving and supportive and energized," she said during an exclusive interview backstage with The Republican and www.MassLive.com.

The star also discussed her upcoming show on CBS and her plans to perform at the New York City Ballet's Spring Gala this coming May.

"I'm very excited about that. I grew up listening to so many different kinds of music," she said.

Currently she is working on topics for the talk show "The Queen Latifah Show."

"I'm just gearing up for this show in the fall. I'm really looking forward to it," she said.

On stage, Queen Latifah was peppered with questions by Bay Path College President Carol Leary, who read questions sent by fans on Twitter and from students and staff who posted questions on the college's blog.

Asked about her childhood growing up in Newark, N.J., Queen Latifah, born Dana Owens, told several anecdotes about her family, from learning to read by reading The New York Times and The Star -Ledger to learning how to shoot a gun at age 5 from her father who was a police officer, and as it turns out, a member of the Black Panther Party, an African-American revolutionary socialist organization.

"There was always music in our home. My mom and my dad loved music. I remember when we were kids we would have these great parties at the house with congas and bongos and African drums and it was amazing," she said. "It wasn't until years later that I found out that they were actually Black Panther meetings. My dad being a cop he couldn't openly talk about that," she said.

Queen Latifah also expressed her regrets about not obtaining a college degree.

"I promised my mom that if after a year of putting 150 percent into my career it didn't work out I would go back to school," she said. "I never did go back."

Leary then suggested Queen Latifah enroll in the school's online degree program. Queen Latifah said she would consider it and then suggested jokingly that the school give her an honorary degree.

Leary said it was a deal and invited her to graduation in May to receive a diploma, calling the star a kind, authentic, down-to-earth person.

"It's a matter of scheduling, but if I can be here on graduation I would be honored to accept a degree from this wonderful school that empowers women," she said.

While many people waited in line to take their picture with her, Queen Latifah wanted to get her picture taken with a woman she admires and is rumored to play in an upcoming film. King Peggy, the leader of the village of Otuam, Ghana, met Queen Latifah backstage.

Queen Latifah asked King Peggy if she could take a photo with her and seemed speechless at first.

"I'm in awe," she said.

King Peggy was also a featured speaker at the event, talking before a crowded room of hundreds about how she ended up being the king of the village of 7,000.

The king was Peggielene Bartels, a secretary in D.C., when she inherited the position of royalty in 2008 upon the death of her uncle. In a humorous and energetic hour long talk, King Peggy talked about the struggles she faced being a female king and how she had to fire many of her male advisers who refused to respect her opinions and ideas.

King Peggy and Queen Latifah received standing ovations as they entered the main conference room full of 2,000 people.

Queen Latifah's interview was varied going from discussing how she ran naked through her empty house when she found out she had earned an Academy Award nomination for her role in "Chicago," to debating whether to give up treasured foods like mac-and cheese to get the ideal body like Janet Jackson.

In the end, Queen Latifah said she was comfortable enough in her own skin to celebrate who she is, as she is and told the women in the audience to strive for the same.

"Be bold, be brave enough to be your true self," she said.

Bars can hold 18 and over nights without a special permit but must ensure only those of legal age drink alcohol.

Double Six restaurant and sports bar, 352 High St. Mike Plaisance, The Republican  

Updated at 10:12 p.m. to include comments from Double Six Co-owner Yasser “Sunny” Hussain saying the fights and arrests didn't occur in or near his bar.

HOLYOKE -- An owner of the Double Six lounge at 352 High St. told police the establishment will hire a second police officer for security on Wednesday nights after police arrested five people in a fight at the club early Thursday, Mayor Alex B. Morse said.

Police Lt. Matthew F. Moriarty said it was the second Wednesday police have responded to the Double Six on its "18 and over" nights in which people younger than the legal drinking age of 21 are allowed into the lounge but prohibited from drinking alcohol.

Co-owner Yasser “Sunny” Hussain, of Easthampton, confirmed that Double Six will hire a second police officer for Wednesday nights and will close a half hour earlier on those nights, at 1:30 a.m., instead of the usual 2 a.m.. But he said despite the Holyoke police log listing 352 High St. as where the arrests occurred, no fights occurred in the establishment or near it outside.

“It has nothing to do with my bar. I did all the right things. I have my security, I have my bouncers,” Hussain said.

"It had nothing to do with the bar itself. We've had no issues at all since we opened," he said.

He described the Wednesday event as “a nice college night” that draws students from the region to downtown.

He has no way of knowing whether the people arrested had patronized his bar, he said.

“I don’t know, to be honest with you,” Hussain said.

Morse said that city regulations allow bars to hold 18 and over nights without a special permit and that it is the bar's duty to ensure those drinking alcohol are legally of age to do so.

He spoke with Police Chief James M. Neiswanger who had spoken to an owner of the Double Six and said a second police officer will be hired on Wednesdays.

"The police are aware of the problems and are working with the owners to ensure a safe environment for all," Morse wrote in an email.

The arrest log shows police responded to the Double Six at 12:31 a.m. to help an officer working the extra detail at the club, and at 1:44 a.m. for a general disturbance.

David E. Lopez, 22, of 138 Brown Ave., apartment 1, was charged with disorderly conduct and indecent exposure at 12:31 a.m.

Arrested in the 1:44 a.m. police responses were Shellyanne Toro, 17, of 1949 Page Blvd., Springfield, assault and battery and disorderly conduct; Zulay Garcia, 24, of 59 Malden St., Springfield, disorderly conduct and witness interference and obstruction of justice; Brian Santiago, 18, of 183 Laconia St., Springfield, disorderly conduct; and Vincente Rodriguez, 21, of 177 Elm st., apartment 4R, Holyoke, disorderly conduct.

The Double Six opened in October in the building formerly occupied by Lorraine's Fashion Showcase.

The fire spread up the house exterior but firefighters were able to contain it before it entered the attic.

03.09.11 | Photo by Julian Feller-Cohen – The Agawam Fire Department's patch.  

View Larger Map

AGAWAM - A fire that began in the backyard deck of a home at 11 Western Drive caused an estimated $30,000 damage Friday evening, according to a fire official.

Fire Department Lt. Castelli said the fire melted the siding of the house and caused some damage to the walls underneath, but firefighters were able to contain it before it could extend into the attic.

There were no injuries. The home's interior sustained some smoke damage only.

He said it is not clear how the fire started. Investigators remained on scene Friday night looking for the cause.

The fire was reported at just after 6 p.m.

Western Drive is located off River Road, south of Route 57.

Parents are allowed to help children four and under in a specially cordoned off area but some parents were a little too involved with older children.

EASTHAMPTON – More volunteers will be on hand for Saturday’s annual Easter Egg hunt after a few parents got a little too involved in the egg gathering process last year.

Parents are allowed to help children four and under in a specially cordoned off area but some parents were a little too involved with older children.

Also some parents who wanted to take pictures were a little disgruntled when asked to move to the edges of the hunt, said Easthampton Community Center Director Robin Bialecki.

Organizers had considered cancelling it after last year of the rude behavior.

The center has sponsored the hunt for the last five years, but it has been a city tradition for at least 20 years, she said.

One parent yelled to tell older children there were eggs in the little children’s area and so they crossed over. Toddlers were knocked over by the older kids.

This year, because of the snow, the hunt will be held in the parking lot behind the Municipal Building not on Daley Field. The areas will be sectioned off clearly and more volunteers will be on hand to ensure parents stay away from the hunt with the older children. “It’s really for the kids,” Bialecki said.

Volunteers have stuffed 825 pounds of candy into 18,000 eggs. She said 60 eggs have slips of paper for prizes that include gift certificates, toys, stuffed animals, pizza and other treats.

She said there will be one police officer as in the past but cruisers will be blocking off the parking lot entrances as well.

The University of Minnesota now claims two championships, while the University of Chicago and Virginia Commonwealth University each takes one.

National Academic Quiz Tournaments said it vacated four wins for Harvard University, shown above, from 2009 to 2011. Associated Press file photo  

BOSTON – Harvard University has been stripped of four quiz tournament titles after organizers found a student improperly accessed a competition website.

On its website, National Academic Quiz Tournaments said it vacated four Harvard wins from 2009 to 2011 and gave them to other schools.

The University of Minnesota now claims two championships, and the University of Chicago and Virginia Commonwealth University each takes one.

Tournament officials say Andy Watkins accessed an administrative website containing information about questions on which he competed as a Harvard student.

Watkins, who also was a writer for the tournament organization, says he regretted his immaturity but competed in good faith for Harvard.

NAQT said there wasn't evidence that Watkins took advantage of the access to help in game situations, but it vacated the wins because of fair-play expectations.

Caldicott will describe the health dangers following the meltdown of nuclear reactors of Fukushima, Japan, and the general dangers of nuclear power

"Bees" prepare for annual spelling bee in Northampton. Mieke Zuiderweg  

Caldicott will describe the health dangers following the meltdown of nuclear reactors of Fukushima, Japan, and the general dangers of nuclear power. Born and taught in Australia, she later moved to the United States to begin her medical career as a pediatrician on staff at the Children's Hospital Medical Center in Boston and taught pediatrics at Harvard.

NORTHAMPTON – The Northampton Education Foundation will hold its 13th Annual Adult Spelling Bee at the John F. Kennedy Middle School on March 27 at 6 p.m. to raise grant money for Northampton teachers. The three-person teams will compete for awards in slepping, costume and humor. Suggested donation is $5. The doors open at 5 p.m. For more information visit www.northampton-edfoundation.org, or contact Jeanne Hoose at jeannehoose@gmail.com

Nomination papers for the 2013 election will be available beginning Tuesday at the Springfield Election Office

Gladys Oyola  

SPRINGFIELD – Nomination papers will be available in the Election Office at City Hall beginning Tuesday for those residents interested in becoming candidates in the fall municipal election.

Those seeking officer for City Council and School Committee must obtain the signatures of at least 100 register voters of Springfield, Election Commissioner Gladys Oyola said.

The city election is Nov. 5, with a preliminary election slated for Sept. 17, if needed to reduce the roster of candidates.

The Election Office is located on the ground floor of City Hall, open Monday through Friday, 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. The last day to obtain nomination papers is July 19, by 5 p.m.

A full calendar of candidate deadlines is available on the Web site at http://www.springfield-ma.gov/elections. For additional information, call 413-787-6187.

Because much of that water used in greater Boston comes from the Quabbin Reservoir, Wolowicz was selected to represent the interests of the Connecticut River basin.

View full size Gov. Deval Patrick swears in Jennifer L. Wolowicz to service on the MWRA board of directors. Wolowicz, a Chicopee resident and acting town administrator for South Hadley, was appointed to the board to represent the interests of the Connecticut River basin. submitted photo  

SOUTH HADLEY - Jennifer L. Wolowicz, acting town administrator for South Hadley, began her term this week as a member of the board of directors for the Massachusetts Water Resources Authority.

Wolowicz, a resident of Chicopee, was sworn in by Gov. Deval Patrick on Monday. It is her first term with the board, replacing Springfield lawyer Michael S. Gove who was appointed by Patrick in 2007.

The Water Resources Authority is a public authority created by the legislature 30 years ago to oversee the operations of water and sewer services for 61 communities in the metropolitan Boston area.

Because much of that water comes from the Quabbin Reservoir, Wolowicz was selected by Patrick to represent the interests of the Connecticut River basin.

By statute, appointments to the board made by the governor are considered coterminous, meaning the appointment ends at the conclusion of the governor's term.

“We are grateful to have Ms. Wolowicz serving as a member of the MWRA Board,” said Richard Sullivan of Westfield, the state Energy and Environmental Affairs Secretary and Chairman of the MWRA board.

“It’s critical to have a voice from the Connecticut River Basin, and we welcome her ideas to the team.”

Ms. Wolowicz in January of last year was appointed acting town administrator for South Hadley.
Prior to that, she served as the Personnel Officer and Chief Procurement Officer for the Town.

A resident of Chicopee, she serves on the Chicopee Water Commission and also is a member of the Chicopee Municipal Employees Credit Union Board of Directors.

“I am honored that Governor Patrick asked me to take on this role,” she said.

Police officers have had their salaries boosted through the Quinn Bill, a state program that gave police financial incentive to further their careers through education.

Fire Chief Brian Duggan was among the top wage earners in Northampton. Bob Stern  

The complete list of salaries is available through the City of Northampton website with a click of a mouse. Once there, the public can peruse the gross pay of the 1,473 who were on the Northampton payroll that year. There is also a link to it on MassLive, where the public can also search payroll databases for Springfield, the University of Massachusetts and the state.

Topping the Northampton list is Police Chief Russell P. Sienkiewicz, who grossed $145,700 in fiscal 2012. Right below him is his counterpart in the Fire Department, Chief Brian C. Duggan, who made $141,105. The school superintendent, the former superintendent of Smith Vocational High School, the director of the Department of Public Works and some fire and police captains round out the top 10.

The gross pay that’s posted here does not necessarily reflect the employee’s city salary alone, according to Glenda Stoddard, the director of human resources for Northampton. Some administrators take part in grant programs that supplement their pay. Duggan, for example, had a lower base pay than shown, but was able to boost his gross through an emergency management stipend and other ventures.

Likewise, Dept. Fire Chief Jon Davine, who had the third highest gross pay after Sienkiewicz and Duggan, took part in a grant program that supplemented his income with federal funds.

While captains, lieutenants and deputy chiefs in the fire and police departments top the list along with school administrators and department heads, teachers and the rank and file in public safety who have been on the job for years are close behind.

Police officers have had their salaries boosted through the Quinn Bill, a state program that gave police financial incentive to further their careers through education. Although the state has stopped paying into the program, the city has assumed the burden.

Firefighters get stipends through EMT work on the ambulances that operate out of the fire station. Teachers get step raises over decades of work. Those with advanced degrees also get paid more. A teacher with a Ph.D. can top out at about $70,000, Stoddard said.

You will have to look far down the list to see the salary of Mayor David J. Narkewicz, which is listed as $40,828. This actually represents about half his salary, Stoddard said, since the mayor took office halfway through the fiscal year. Narkewicz’ full yearly salary is $80,000, more than the $70,000 that the mayor of Easthampton earns but less than the Westfield mayor’s $90,000 salary.

The new Springfield School Safety Committee plans to have meetings with the director of school safety and the director of the Quebec police unit assigned to the schools.

 

SPRINGFIELD – A newly appointed school safety committee met for the first time this week, with members saying a key part of their task will be conferring with administrators, staff, police and mental health advocates to improve upon current policies and procedures.

John E. Nettis, chairman of the 11-member committee, formed by City Council President James J. Ferrera III, said the committee will first compile the copies of all policies and procedures on school safety, and then start meeting with the key personnel overseeing those policies and affected by them.

“Certainly the committee members here today are on the same page I am,” Nettis said. “I am very encouraged and motivated and excited to take on this task. If you think of it, it’s a pretty awesome endeavor. You hear so much about school safety. I want to go ahead and bring the climate from the ’50s and the ’60s and the ’70s back to the school system so teachers are not afraid to teach and students are not afraid to learn.”

Ferrera had pledged to create the committee following the December mass shooting of 20 first-graders and six adults at Sandy Hook Elementary School in Newtown, Conn.

Concerns about safety can range from an intruder and violence to threats resulting from domestic violence and gangs, members said. In addition, members said they want more information about what exists and what can be improved regarding safety handbooks, safety drills and training, first-aid training and wellness checks.

Nettis, a lieutenant with the Hampden County Sheriff’s Department, has a wife who is a teacher and two teenage children and said he wants “to set the table” for their safety and that of his grandchildren and great-grandchildren ahead.

Ferrera initially appointed 10 members to the committee. Leslie Cirelli, a mother of five children and a substitute teacher, volunteered to join and became the 11th member on Wednesday.

“I have four kids in the Springfield public schools and one more on his way into the Springfield public schools,” Cirelli said. “I think it’s important to be able to keep them safe while they are in school all day long. I wanted to be able to help and do something about it.”

She said it is important to review the safety procedures for the school district and eventually the individual schools.

Ferrera, a member of the committee, said the first meeting was the start of many that will include conferring with the director of school safety and the director of the Quebec police unit used in the middle and high schools, as well as with principals and others.

“Our objective is to make the Springfield public schools the safest public schools in the country,” Ferrera said. “We are working to ensure that our schoolchildren and our support staff working in the schools feel safe.”

The committee will look at ways of improving current safety procedures and complementing the positive steps already taken.

Other committee members are Bobbie Rennix, Melanie Joyner, Sonia Rodriguez, Councilors Bud L. Williams, Zaida Luna and Kateri B. Walsh, and School Committee members Barbara Gresham and Peter Murphy.