Pioneer Valley struck by heavy rain causing flooding and blocked roads.

Staff photo by Michael BeswickSpringfield- Main Street in Springfield south of Mill Street was one of a number of areas around Springfield Saturday that had flooding issues due to the steady rain.

After a prolonged dry spell, the region was struck by heavy rain Saturday, flooding many roads and underpasses and forcing the cancellation of the “Celebrate Ludlow” festival and fireworks.

Two to 3 inches of rain was reported on Saturday in some areas, blocking many roads, flooding low-lying areas, and stalling cars, while East Longmeadow recorded 4.6 inches by evening.

“We definitely need the rain,” said Mike Skurko, a meteorologist for CBS3. “This may be a little bit too much all at once. Two, 3 inches all at once is never a good thing.”

The “Celebrate Ludlow” festival and fireworks Saturday was canceled as a result of the heavy rain and public safety concerns, Selectman Aaron Sanders said.

The festival was planned at the Ludlow Fish and Game Club on Sportsman Road. With rain flooding some low-lying areas and some lightning, the Police and Fire departments determined it would not be safe to have the event, Saunders said.

More than 2 inches of rain was recorded in Holyoke and Westfield and more than 3 inches in Longmeadow, Skurko said.

Holyoke police reported flooding of roads including the underpasses on Cabot Street and Sergeant Street.

In Longmeadow, multiple cars were stuck Saturday afternoon in a flooded section of Dwight Road near the Franconia Golf Course, Sgt. Andrew Fullerton said. There were also cars stuck on Williams Street near Wilkin Drive, and Blueberry Hill near the elementary school, he said.

The rain helps ease the recent drought conditions, Skurko said.

More rain is in the forecast. Scattered showers are expected daily in the afternoon over the next week, Skurko said.

Today: A few showers, partly sunny, a little humid, high 82.

Tonight: Variable clouds, mild and muggy, low 64.

Monday: Partly cloudy, an isolated afternoon shower, muggy, high 83.

Tuesday: Scattered showers and thunderstorms, muggy, high 82.

Teen operator crashes car in Easthampton while using a cell phone.

EASTHAMPTON- A 17-year-old driver has been charged with marked lane violations after crashing a car into a home at 158 Park St., police said.

WGGB reports the teen was driving the car Saturday night and using a cell phone when he lost control of the pick-up truck he was driving and crashed into the home.

There were no injuries.

Victim recovering after shooting in the area of Armory Street.

File photo | The Republican

SPRINGFIELD -Police are investigating a shooting in the area of Armory and Magazine streets.

Officials in the detective bureau said they are not releasing any information at this time. However, WWLP is reporting the victim is a 44-year-old Springfield man, who was shot three times.

Springfield Police Lt. David Martin told 22News the man was taken to Baystate Medical Center where he is being treated for injuries in his leg and butt.

Police are looking for a Hispanic man who is six feet tall, last seen wearing white t-shirt, shorts, and a red hat.

The legislation would give more rights to property owners whose land is located in areas designated as priority habitat to imperiled species.

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Proposed legislation that critics say would harm endangered species and supporters say would help landowners is facing possible extinction if lawmakers don't take action by July 31, the end of the current legislative session.

The bills have pitted environmentalists against private and public landowners, and legislators against the endangered species law they enacted more than 20 years ago. If the bills die on the vine this legislative session, a local lawmaker has vowed to revisit the contentious issue when the Legislature reconvenes in January.

Senate Bill 1854 and House Bill 4208, both supported by the Legislature's Joint Committee on Environment, Natural Resources and Agriculture, would require strict adherence to the 1990 law that established the Massachusetts Endangered Species Act, or MESA. Proponents say the legislation would restore appellate rights to priority habitat landowners whose property is subject to review and restrictions by the state's Natural Heritage and Endangered Species Program, a key conservation tool of the Massachusetts Division of Fisheries and Wildlife.

The portion of MESA designed to give property owners appellate and other rights — including the right to petition the state for compensation if land is taken or barred from future development — was never implemented by the Natural Heritage and Endangered Species Program despite its inclusion in MESA. "The bill simply compels Natural Heritage to follow the existing law," said Sen. Gale D. Candaras, D-Wilbraham, the sponsor of S.B. 1854.

The legislation, according to backers, would make MassWildlife's species protection program more accountable to property owners and lawmakers, affirming the original bundle of landowners' rights provided by MESA. But opponents of any proposals that might weaken MESA and the state's ability to protect threatened or endangered species say the pending legislation is a wrong-headed approach to addressing issues with the Natural Heritage program, and they're urging lawmakers to reject legislation that would do away with the "priority habitat" model currently used.

"They just don't realize what they're doing," said Joseph S. Larson, a member of the state Fisheries and Wildlife Board, the body that sets policy for MassWildlife. Larson said the legislation, as drafted, would essentially nullify the various land mitigation tools used by Natural Heritage when dealing with priority habitat properties. "It would eliminate all of that," he said, undermining MESA and forcing state wildlife officials to implement costly requirements that are more restrictive for landowners.

The priority habitat designation was created by MassWildlife as a more flexible alternative to the "significant habitat" designation, a stricter protection model included in the 1990 MESA law. Priority habitat, for example, allows property owners to conduct on- and off-site land mitigation or to fund research into endangered species as possible ways for proposed projects to proceed in sensitive areas. Supporters of the model say it enables communities, project proponents, regulators and technical experts to work together to protect at-risk plants and animals while simultaneously fostering growth and development.

However, the proposed legislation would allow priority habitat landowners to legally challenge Natural Heritage-imposed restrictions or conditions in Superior Court. The significant habitat designation created by MESA gave landowners the right to appeal and seek compensation for land taken out of use by Natural Heritage, but that model was never implemented, according to state environmental officials, who view significant habitat as "a tool of last resort."

The significant habitat model would prevent most types of development on land with special management or protection considerations, according to environmental officials. Current case law supports MassWildlife's regulatory authority to enforce MESA provisions, with several legal rulings upholding the agency's right to use the more flexible priority habitat model as a separate-but-equal screening tool to significant habitat.

Joseph Larson

Larson said the significant habitat provision was simply too expensive to implement and would have been particularly burdensome for property owners. "It was almost tantamount to a taking of land. That portion of the law has never been used because it's such a Draconian approach," said Larson, an endangered species specialist with a Ph.D. in zoology. He and all six of his Fisheries and Wildlife Board colleagues signed a June 26 letter urging lawmakers to vote against S.B. 1854 and its redrafted version, H.B. 4208.

Bill backers argue that MassWildlife overstepped its authority by creating the priority habitat category for endangered, threatened and special-concern species. Those are the commonwealth's three categories for imperiled plant and animal populations, with "endangered" representing species most at risk of extinction. Priority habitat doesn't include due process or compensation rights for property owners affected by regulatory land takings, but instead enables landowners to fund habitat protection efforts and other land bank mitigation options as ways to overcome development obstacles.

In theory and law, but not in practice, the director of MassWildlife has authority to identify and designate significant habitat for threatened and endangered species statewide, but not so-called priority habitat. MESA requires the significant habitat designation to be reviewed annually, and property owners seeking to alter or develop land must receive permission from the director before going forward.

The Senate bill sponsored by Candaras aims to enforce the significant habitat model. The bill was the subject of a favorable report last month by the Joint Committee on Environment, Natural Resources and Agriculture, which sent the measure to the House of Representatives. A House redraft, H.B. 4208, is now pending before the Ways and Means Committee.

The House bill hews closely to recommendations made by state Inspector General Gregory W. Sullivan, whose office launched an investigation after receiving "numerous complaints" from property owners about Natural Heritage preventing or delaying projects. State environmental officials emphasize that roughly 77 perecent of proposed developments proceed as originally planned, while about 20 percent require conditions or restrictions. Only around 3 percent require MESA permits.

Sullivan, in a May 24 letter to House Speaker Robert DeLeo, suggested that the Legislature consider implementing a notification and public hearing process for priority habitat landowners, who presently don't receive notice about their land's restricted status. That status also doesn't appear on property deeds when land is bought or sold. Roughly 400,000 acres of the state's 5 million acres have been designated as priority habitat, and it's up to landowners and project proponents to know if their developments fall under the designation.

The Republican file photoGale Candaras

With the proposed legislation unlikely to remain intact beyond July 31, Candaras has vowed to reintroduce a Senate bill early next year. "I don't think that any of us who support this legislation can give up," Candaras said. She said she's been "struggling with the Natural Heritage issue" for more than two years, citing her strong desire to see property owners receive their due process rights under the law.

Opponents of the proposed legislation include the Patrick administration and the state's top environmental officer. The Conservation Law Foundation, the Massachusetts Audubon Society, the Nature Conservancy in Massachusetts, the Sierra Club, and numerous other conservation and sportsmen's groups, oppose the legislation, which they claim would undo more than two decades of progress in protecting the commonwealth's most imperiled plants and animals.

Priority habitat is a screening tool for the state to flag projects that may harm at-risk species if they "go forward unchecked," Jennifer Ryan, the legislative director of the Massachusetts Audubon Society, testified at a Statehouse hearing last summer. The overall goal, environmental officials say, is to protect species that face significant degradation or extinction while simultaneously reviewing projects in areas that could impact those species.

"It's not a land grab," Ryan said in a recent interview with The Republican, batting down allegations that Natural Heritage is in the business of taking people's land or severely restricting its use. According to Ryan, only around 3 percent of projects require MESA permitting, with the vast majority of development proposals proceeding with conditions or as originally envisioned.

Critics, however, argue that those "conditions," which may require a landowner to remove a certain percentage of land from development or donate money to species or habitat preservation efforts elsewhere, are a form of extortion and violate property owners' constitutional rights.

"It's about striking a balance," state Secretary of Energy and Environmental Affairs Richard K. Sullivan Jr. said, adding that shortcomings in the project review process need to be addressed. But the proposed legislation "goes too far," he said.

Sullivan said he understands the frustration of local officials and property owners who bump up against MESA regulations. He said the Natural Heritage program can be improved by giving notification to priority habitat landowners and providing them with clearer land mitigation guidelines.

According to conservation and environmental officials, the legislation, as proposed, would essentially force MassWildlife to implement a series of costly procedural requirements for every parcel of land currently mapped as priority habitat. For example, they say, MassWildlife would have to notify every affected property owner by certified mail, establish new boundary surveys for those properties, then conduct public hearings for each parcel.

Richard Sullivan Jr.

The proposals being considered by the Legislature would result in a number of "unintended consequences" that are both costly and cumbersome to implement, according to Sullivan. "We can craft a much better bill that strikes a balance," he said, adding that conservationists, lawmakers and state environmental officials should regroup to fine tune the regulations.

Ryan, meanwhile, said MassAudubon is working fast and hard to sway lawmakers to reject the legislation before the session ends July 31. "We're working against the clock," she said.

MassAudubon is not alone in the fight: More than 70 conservation groups have lined up against the legislation, which they believe would dismantle Natural Heritage's priority habitat system for protecting imperiled plants and animals.

"We have representation across the state opposed to it," Ryan said.

James Miller, media relations manager for the Nature Conservancy in Massachusetts, believes the state's Natural Heritage program is a "very important" tool to protect at-risk plants and animals. "We are very supportive of it," he said.

Steve Long, director of government relations for the Nature Conservancy, said the proposed legislation would "wipe all priority habitat off the map" and require MassWildlife to redesignate all priority parcels. That, Long said, would be an undertaking that's far too costly, if not impossible, to implement within the time frame stipulated by lawmakers in the bill.

File photo | The RepublicanThe Eastern Box Turtle "a species of 'special concern,' or the least threatened category of plants and animals" on land in Hampden owned by Springfield resident Bill Pepin would require certain mitigation efforts before any construction occurs.

Long and others say the established practice of using the priority habitat model is based on very complicated land-mapping techniques that rely on the best scientific data and methods available for detecting and delineating endangered species and their habitats. The mitigation aspect to priority habitat development is aimed at allowing projects to proceed in harmony with the environment, according to environmental officials.

Critics of Natural Heritage view "mitigation banking" and other quid-pro-quo arrangements as state-sanctioned shakedowns that force property owners to part with money or land in order for projects to advance. Springfield resident Bill Pepin said he wanted to build two homes on 36 acres in rural Hampden, but Natural Heritage officials told him the possible existence of the Eastern Box Turtle — a species of "special concern," or the least threatened category of plants and animals — on the land would require certain mitigation efforts before any construction occurs.

Pepin, who sued in Hampden Superior Court and lost, claims his land was mapped by Natural Heritage as priority habitat in October 2006, shortly after he began the process of buying the large wooded parcel on Hampden's South Road. He said the priority designation was made despite any proof of turtles living on the land. "They did not find a damn thing," he said of the Natural Heritage scientists who searched the property.

Pepin said the priority designation allows Natural Heritage to impose land-use restrictions on his property while denying him due process rights granted under the significant habitat model that MassWildlife mothballed in favor of the priority habitat model. "They deliberately created a regulation to circumvent the law created by the Legislature," he said.

Pepin has a lawsuit pending against MassWildlife in state Appeals Court.

The Patriots will be given a day of rest.

FOXOBOROUGH—The New England Patriots will not practice on Monday.

The team returns to work with a sessions from 1:30 p.m. until 4 p.m. on Tuesday, and then will practice inside of Gillette Stadium Wednesday night before season ticket holders.

The Wednesday session is open only to those with tickets.

Showers and thunderstorms finish out the weekend today.

A few scattered showers and thunderstorms will bother the region again on Sunday ... although not quite the widespread downpour through the middle of the day like yesterday. A stationary frontal system just off the coast to our south will be responsible for the chance of rain again today. The humidity levels also stay rather high with dewpoints hitting 70 degrees at times, and high temperatures in the lower-80s.

We may catch a break in the action tonight and into early Monday...but an isolated shower or thunderstorms will be back in town again late tomorrow afternoon. A little more sunshine will be in the mix tomorrow, but don't expect too much sunshine overall for the week ahead.

Late-day scattered showers and thunderstorms will dominate a majority of the workweek. It is not expected to be a total washout all week long, but a large upper-level trough over the Northeast will keep us on our toes for those pop-up thunderstorms all the way through the workweek. Temperatures continue to stay seasonal (low-to-mid 80s), but the humidity stays a little bit elevated for a while as well.

Today: A few showers, partly sunny, a little humid, high 82.

Tonight: Variable clouds, mild and muggy, low 64.

Monday: Partly cloudy, an isolated afternoon shower, muggy, high 83.

Tuesday: Scattered showers and thunderstorms, muggy, high 82.

Brady still feels grateful for his opportunity to play quarterback for the Patriots.

APNew England Patriots' Tom Brady signs autographs during NFL football training camp in Foxborough, Mass., Saturday, July 28, 2012.

When Tom Brady looks around the league, the view is much different than how he remembers it from his early years.

Peyton Manning is dressed in some weird and exotic hue, Brett Favre is coaching some high school team in a town most have never heard of, and several proud franchises have risen and fell to obscurity since he took the reigns from Drew Beldsoe during the 2001 season.

Yet time has seemingly stood still on Route 1, where the image of Brady and Bill Belichick still hangs over every decision and continues to define who the New England Patriots are. In a league where no projected starter at quarterback has spent more than 10 seasons with his team, Brady will celebrate his 13th consecutive birthday with the Pats when he turns 35 in August.

“I certainly don’t take it for granted,” Brady said. “It’s the most fun I have. I still feel like a young kid out here trying to earn a spot, trying to be a good example. Obviously, I have more experience than most of the guys out here, but you still try to bring enthusiasm and leadership, and try to go out and do your job.”

Brady stated, as he often does, that he’s just trying to win a spot on the roster and get to birthday No. 14 with the Patriots. Despite his straight face, Brady has to know that as long as he’s healthy and productive, which he most certainly is right now, that will never change.

His passes sharp and crisp, he’s made few mistakes in the early stages of camp and his chemistry with his receivers and tight ends has been evident. Things have even looked easy with Brandon Lloyd, who joined the team this offseason, even though both have said that they are still in somewhat of an awkward stage in terms of chemistry development.

But despite the constant whoops and hollers from the crowd, Brady hasn’t been pleased with his performance. He feels “lethargic” and sometimes his receivers appear that way.

What he’s seeing now isn’t perfect, and even this early in the process anything less than an artful display of passing feels like a failure. His hunger won’t allow him to become satisfied on a mere appetizer.

“It’s been the same thing since I got here – to win,” Brady said. “That’s the only thing that matters with your training, practicing, nutrition, rehab – it’s to win. Everything you do when you come out here is about winning and being the best you can for this team.”

That shouldn’t be a problem this season. Brady hasn’t shown any regression throughout his career, and some may argue that last season, when he threw for 5,235 yards and 39 touchdowns, was one of his best.

But right now he can’t worry about getting back to the Super Bowl or what happened last season, there’s a roster to make, and it would be devastating if he had to make other living arraingments.

"I love playing quarterback for this team,” Brady said. “It’s a great responsibility to have, and I appreciate it every single day. There’s nothing I’d rather do than be out here being a quarterback for this team. My life is pretty much built around that.”

For some reason it seems like that won’t be changing anytime soon.

Anyone who is used to getting more than $54,000 a year in pension from Friendly's will not get that in the future.

The Republican | Michael S. GordonFriendly's CEO John M. Maguire at the company's Wilbraham headquarters..

WILBRAHAM - Friendly’s future is going to look a lot like its past – its distant past – according to new CEO John M. Maguire.

It’ll be a future focused on ice cream and food standbys like Big Beefs, melts, fries and Fishamajigs, coupled with about five standard breakfast items.

Gone will be menu items that Maguire said just don’t fit with the consumer’s notion of Friendly’s: the bourbon barbecue chicken, the quesadilla.

“We have to focus on what our core customer wants,” he said. “I’m not sure anyone comes to Friendly’s for barbecue. But we have barbecue items on the menu.”

Maguire took the helm at Friendly’s about a month ago. And while Friendly’s is beloved here for its nostalgia, any discussion of the current restaurants is likely to focus on notoriously slow service and dirty, run-down restaurant locations.

Maguire wasn’t CEO during the bankruptcy, but he said the alternative would have been to close the chain. He said the bankruptcy saved 377 restaurants and about 5,700 jobs. It also freed up capital to invest in locations.

“I believe that in 12 to 18 months, Friendly’s can start growing again,” Maguire said. “If the locations are not making money, you can’t invest. You can’t grow. That’s when you get the debt coming in.”

Of those jobs, 162 are in the Wilbraham offices and another 134 are in the ice cream factory.

Business is booming at the factory making ice cream and ice cream cakes for a number of retailers including Walmart and Target.

Another 67 people work at a distribution center in Chicopee.

Brothers Curtis L. and S. Prestley Blake founded Friendly’s in 1935 in Springfield’s Pine Point neighborhood; the brothers made the brand famous for simple meals and ice cream. Neither has an ownership stake anymore.

Friendly’s emerged from bankruptcy Jan. 9 after its corporate owners, Sun Capital Partners LLC, repurchased the iconic brand for $122.6 million, and in the process wiped away $297 million in debt and closed more than 100 locations, nine of them in the Springfield area. The sale price was about a third of the $337.2 million owners Sun Capital paid for the chain in 2007.

As part of that bankruptcy, Friendly’s abandoned the company’s pension plan to the Pension Benefit Guaranty Corp. In he next few months, Friendly’s 6,000 retirees will start getting payments from Pension Guaranty, said spokesman Marc Hopkins.

“No one will miss a payment,” he said.

But for some, those checks will be smaller. The Pension Benefit Guaranty Corp. only backs up pensions to a certain maximum: in Friendly’s case, it is $54,000 a year for someone who retired at age 65. Hopkins said it is too early in the transition to know how many Friendly’s retirees will bump into that ceiling.

Anyone who is used to getting more than $54,000 a year in pension will not get that in the future, he said. Also, there is no cost-of-living adjustment, Hopkins said from the agency’s headquarters in Washington.

Maguire deflected most talk of the bankruptcy proceeding. Instead, he said, the his eyes are on the future.

The 19-year-veteran of the Panera Bread chain said beer and wine will probably not be a part of that future. The previous management team obtained a beer and wine license from the city of Chicopee for a location on Memorial Drive. Maguire said that license probably never will be used, as beer and wine don’t fit his vision for the chain.

The move to beer and wine, along with extraneous menu items, are all symptoms of the “mission creep” Maguire said he sees in troubled restaurant chains.

Sales start to fall. So executives start coming up with more menu items in an effort to goose sales. But the new menu items are complicated and they slow down the kitchen, making service slow. The new menu items then fail to catch on, so executives start throwing more ideas against the wall in an increasingly desperate search for something that sticks.

“It’s a death spiral,” Maguire said.

Hugh Robert, restaurant columnist for The Republican and MassLive.com, said Maguire has a point about the proliferation of menu items. He suspects that a lot of those items came out of a corporate headquarters with little thought of how the dishes would be executed in the field.

“In the industry, there is a lot of talk about the veto vote,” Robert said. “That’s when a group of people are deciding where to go and there is always that person who says no because they don’t have steak tips, or whatever.”

But Robert, a faculty member in Holyoke Community College’s hospitality and culinary arts program with more than 35 years of restaurant and educational experience, thinks Friendly’s might be a lost cause.

There is just too much competition out there from fast-casual restaurants like Applebee’s and, yes, Panera Bread. The ice cream business has shifted to premium products like Coldstone Creamery, Ben & Jerry’s and boutique mom-and-pop dipping shops.

“There is just not one thing Friendly’s does better than everyone else,” Robert said. “I wonder if they won’t go the way of Howard Johnson’s.”

Maguire said he knows that Friendly’s is a hit with two age groups: children and senior citizens. His challenge is to serve those customers by going back to basics and build in the middle by improving quality and service. “But it really is all about families,” he said. Back when Friendly’s was talking about beer and wine, Elizabeth L. R. Elam, professor of marketing at Western New England University in Springfield, said Friendly’s needed to focus on its identity as a place for families. “I’m extremely biased because I have young children (ages 6 and 10), and we love Friendly’s,” Elam said at the time.

The Pine Point, East Forest Park and Liberty Street branch libraries were closed July 2, due to budget cuts.

File photos | The RepublicanThree closed branches of the Springfield City Library, clockwise from top – Liberty Street, Pine Point and East Forest Park – could reopen in September if the City Council passes a $15 per year increase in the municipal trash fee.

SPRINGFIELD — The City Council has a special meeting Monday to consider final passage of a trash fee increase, and a related transfer of $200,000 to reopen three branch libraries.

The meeting is at 5 p.m., at City Hall.

As proposed, the trash fee will increase from the current rate of $75 per year to $90 for homeowners. A $25 senior citizen discount will remain in effect.

Of the $15 increase in the trash rate, if approved, $5 will be earmarked to reopen the branch libraries, councilors said. The branches were closed on July 2, due to budget cuts, shutting the Liberty Street library in Liberty Heights, the Boston Road library in Pine Point, and the Island Pond Road library in East Forest Park.

Council President James J. Ferrera III said Friday it is a difficult decision to raise the trash fee. However, residents want city services, and there was a great outcry from neighborhood residents regarding the closed libraries, he said.

“It’s a tough situation with the state of not only the local economy but the national economy and urban cities like Springfield trying to balance city budgets with declining revenues,” Ferrera said. “Springfield has services that the residents enjoy, one of them being the libraries. We heard overwhelming support for these particular branches to remain open.”

Library Director Molly Fogarty has stated that it will take a few weeks before the branches can reopen, as additional personnel need to be interviewed and hired. Materials were not moved from the closed branches after the closing July 2, because of the chance for restoration of funding.

Opponents of the trash fee increase have said it poses a hardship on many homeowners. Some have opposed the trash fee over the years, saying it represents double taxation, and accusing local officials of not doing enough to cut city expenses.

Mayor Domenic J. Sarno had asked for a $10 increase in the trash fee this fiscal year. Ward 7 Councilor Timothy J. Allen, who represents East Forest Park, sponsored the higher increase, $15, with the agreement the added funds would help free up city budget funds for the libraries.

It costs the city about $10 million annually to collect and dispose of the trash, officials said. The trash fee raises about $4 million, with the balance covered by the city budget.

The trash fee increase has already won support from the majority of city councilors in first-step and second-step votes.

O'Brien discussed the state of the special teams unit prior to Sunday's practice.

APNew England Patriots tight end Aaron Hernandez (81) catches a pass as he works a bit after practice on the second day of training camp at the NFL football team's facility in Foxborough, Mass., Friday, July 27, 2012.

FOXBOROUGH – One of the more surprising moments to come during training camp occurred during special teams drills when tight end Aaron Hernandez dropped back serve as a punt returner.

One of the initial thoughts was that Hernandez was getting work in the event of an emergency, but New England Patriots special teams coach Scott O’Brien shot down that notion Sunday when discussing the state of his unit.

“No. I think anytime you’re a ball handler, one of the hardest things to do is catch punts,” O’Brien said when asked about Hernandez. “It’s not only a great drill for any receiver as well as punt returners to focus in on trying to catch a ball that normally is tough to catch than a quarterback throwing you a ball.”

While it remains to be seen whether Hernandez will ever get on the field as a returner in a game situation, it makes sense for the Patriots to explore new ways to get the ball into his hands as often as possible.

Last season Hernandez accumulated 503 yards after the catch, placing him second among NFL tight ends behind Rob Gronkowski. His 6.4 yards after catch per reception put him second on the team behind Gronkowski (7.1), and ahead of Welker (6.0).

Hernandez hasn’t returned a punt during a game since playing at Bristol Central High School in Connecticut, but said earlier this week he is open to the idea of serving on a unit that finished 16th in the league with an average return rate of 10.2 yards per punt.

“I love having the ball in my hands and make plays,” Hernandez said. “That’s another opportunity. Hopefully I get another opportunity to be back there, but Julian Edelman does a great job.”

Working as the primary punt returner last season, Edelman returned 28 punts for 296 yards. He returned a 72-yard punt for a touchdown in the third quarter of the Patriots’ Week 11 game against the Kansas City Chiefs, a 34-3 victory.

He set a franchise record with a 94-yard return in the 2010 finale against the Miami Dolphins, making him the fourth player in team history to return multiple punts for scores, joining Troy Brown, Irving Fryar and Michael Haynes.

Like Hernandez, Edelman had no experience returning punts when he took on the role, but O’Brien felt he had good ball skills and brought him along in the role.

“There was a learning curve for him, not only catch that ball, understand what the ball was doing in the air, how it was going to come down, and worked really hard on it,” O’Brien said. “The biggest improvement for him, like all young guys, is not only learning our schemes and what our strategies are for certain situations, but field awareness. When you’re on the field, what’s happening to the coverage that you’re going to face, what do you have to do as a return, what decision do I have to make.

“It’s hard for young guys, even if they had experience coming in with us at the beginning, let alone a guy that’s never really done it.”

Hernandez looked comfortable fielding punts but there was one mishap that, much to his chagrin, caused him to call for a fair catch.

“I kind of misjudged it,” Hernandez said. “I’m not a fan of fair catches.”

That may have to change if he hopes to have a future as a return man.

A stray shower early tonight, partly cloudy skies for one day tomorrow.

A few scattered rain showers are still dotting the map across western Massachusetts as we finish out this afternoon. A stationary frontal system and an associated area of low pressure is slowly pushing further out to sea, which will eventually put an end to the chance of rain after midnight. Overnight lows will be near 60 degrees, with the mugginess easing up a little bit as high pressure starts moving into the region.

Some areas of fog start off our Monday morning, which may also masquerade as low-level cloud cover to filter out some of the sunshine to start off the day. With an area of high pressure quickly passing overhead, however, we will see a partly cloudy and dry day for the rest of Monday. High temperatures will once again be in the lower-80s, but the humidity should remain just a little bit lower compared to this weekend.

Enjoy Monday if you can because late-day scattered showers and thunderstorms will dominate a majority of the workweek. It is not expected to be a total washout all week long, but a large upper-level trough over the Northeast will keep us on our toes for those pop-up thunderstorms all the way through the workweek. We'll start with partly sunny skies and isolated showers on Tuesday, and then a few more clouds and scattered showers for Wednesday. Temperatures continue to stay seasonal (low-to-mid 80s), but the humidity stays a little bit elevated for a while as well.

Tonight: A scattered shower early this evening, variable clouds overnight, patchy fog, low 61.

Monday: Partly cloudy, seasonal, high 83.

Tuesday: Partly sunny, an isolated shower/thunderstorm, muggy, high 82.

Wednesday: Mostly cloudy, scattered showers and thunderstorms, muggy, high 84.

The state community preservation funds come from $10 and $20 fees on real-estate transactions.

The George Washington historical plaque in Agawam was refurbished with community preservation funds.

BOSTON – Municipal leaders in Western Massachusetts are celebrating approval of more state matching money for communities that raise local funds for open space, historic preservation and affordable housing.

Under the 12-year-old Community Preservation Act, cities and towns across the state receive a state match if voters have adopted the act by approving a property tax surcharge to raise local money.

Gov. Deval L. Patrick this month approved a series of revisions to the preservation act when he signed the state budget on July 8. The changes were first passed by state legislators as riders in the $32.5 billion state budget for the fiscal year that started July 1.

One change provides for an additional $25 million in statewide matching money, which currently all comes from $10 and $20 fees on real estate transactions.

Another important change will allow the funds to be used for repairs to more recreational facilities and parks.

State matching money has been declining in recent years, partly because of a weak housing market and partly because more communities have adopted the law, meaning the state money is further spread out.

“I’ll take it as it comes,” Leslie Duthie, chairwoman of the Monson Community Preservation Committee, said of the additional state money. “That is just fine."

The additional $25 million would come from an expected surplus in this fiscal year’s state budget and could nearly double the amount of state matching money expected in October of next year for communities that have adopted the preservation law, according to Douglas P. Pizzi, a spokesman for the Community Preservation Coalition.

Leslie Duthie

The average state match this October will likely be 22 percent of the money raised by a community through its property tax surcharge, while next year the match could be at least 40 percent, according to Pizzi. Before 2008, all communities received a 100 percent match from the state.

Another key change to the law allows use of funds, including the state match and money generated through the local surcharge, to make capital improvements on existing recreational land that was not created or acquired with funds from the law. Previously, Community Preservation Act funds were limited to use on recreational properties bought or created with those funds.

Pizzi said the provision for renovating recreational assets could be especially important to urban communities with parks and other recreational properties that need capital improvements.

“That’s a big change for Northampton,” which approved 3 percent surcharge in 2005, said Sarah LaValley, community preservation planner for Northampton.

The 150-acre Look Park, located in Florence, and Pulaski Park, the downtown park that hosts the annual holiday tree lighting, could benefit from the new provision, LaValley said.

The Republican file photoThe illuminated proscenium at the Academy of Music was restored with community preservation funds.

Northampton has used the funds for 55 projects, including restoring historic features of the Academy of Music, preservation of historic city records, purchasing a historic home for the creation of the David Ruggles Center for Early Florence History and Underground Railroad Studies and restoration and preservation of historic properties at the Parsons, Shepherd and Damon houses, which are part of Historic Northampton.

Northampton also funded conservation projects including purchase and protection of 100 acres of open space contiguous to the Fitzgerald Lake conservation area and measures to protect both the 45-acre Bean Farm and the 140-acre Allard Farm.

Corinne Wingard, a member of the Agawam Community Preservation Committee, said her city lobbied for the changes in the law. She said the revisions will give communities a lot more flexibility in using funds. “I think it is absolutely terrific,” Wingard said.

A total of 148 communities have adopted the law. The state Department of Revenue last year distributed $26.4 million as statewide matching money.

The money can be used for historic preservation, open space, affordable housing and recreation. In order to adopt the law, voters need to approve a local surcharge up to 3 percent on property tax bills.

Corinne Wingard

Monson, which approved a 3 percent surcharge in 2006, has used the funds to purchase and protect land near Peaked Mountain Reservation. The purchase provided a new trail head and trail connection to the summit of Peaked Mountain.

Monson also restored the First Church of Monson, created an account for the town’s Council on Aging to help the elderly and disabled repair their homes and purchased a portable accessible ramp for the physically handicapped that the Monson Housing Authority can install where necessary to allow easier access to its housing.

Agawam, which approved 1 percent surcharge in 2001, used funds to restore the George Washington historical marker at the corner of Main and Federal streets, to create a new park off School Street and to upgrade low-income and elderly housing.

Arlene C. Miller, clerk of the Longmeadow Community Preservation Committee, said she also likes the provision for making capital improvements on existing recreational lands. Money is tight in the town budget, she said, and “we have a lot of parks and ball fields that are in disrepair and could use assistance.”

The changes in the law “are a real opportunity for the towns that have committed themselves to the preservation process,” Miller said. Longmeadow adopted 1 percent surcharge in 2006.

Paul H. Boudo, chairman of the West Springfield Community Preservation Committee, said he also wants to use a new measure that allows the option of exempting from the surcharge the first $100,000 of property value for commercial and industrial properties. Previously, only residential properties could receive the exemption.

Boudo said voters would need to approve the provision at the ballot. West Springfield adopted a 1 percent surcharge in 2008.

Boudo said the provision would make the law a little more tasteful for business owners. “It certainly gives the act and those participating a shot in the arm,” Boudo said of the package of changes in the law.

West Springfield, with its recent adoption of the act, has approved three historical-preservation projects, including restoration of a stone bridge in Mittineague Park, adding a decorative fence to the centuries-old Union Street Cemetery and restoring old grave- and headstones at the Park Street cemetery, said Richard J. Kosinski, vice-chairman of the committee.

A community can raise some substantial money by opting in to the law, according to data from the preservation coalition.

Including the surcharge and state contribution, for example, Agawam raised $535,070 in a recent fiscal year; Amherst, $500,386; Belchertown, $237,527; Deerfield, $286,128; Easthampton, $465,374; East Longmeadow, $258,504; Hadley, $312,217; Hampden, $68,754; Longmeadow, $354,125; Monson, $292,262; Northampton, $1,136,446; Westfield, $447,054; West Springfield, $471,715; and Wilbraham, $356,520.

The changes in the law are a result of a bi-partisan effort in the state Legislature. Rep. Stephen Kulik, D-Worthington, who is vice-chairman of the House Ways & Means Committee, worked with House Minority Leader Bradley H. Jones Jr., R-North Reading, for passage of the law in the House.

Kulik said he was very pleased that the final state budget included the changes first approved in the House. “This bi-partisan effort,” he said, “will go a long way toward reversing the last four years of declining local match funding.”

The state Division of Local Services last week e-mailed a special notice on the changes in the law to cities and towns. Communities have used the preservation funds on some projects that otherwise might receive no money, according to the website of the preservation coalition.

In Longmeadow, for example, community preservation funds financed a program to apply herbicide in the Fannie Stebbins Wildlife Refuge to eliminate the invasive Japanese knotweed.

For historic preservation, Longmeadow replaced windows in the Center School, restored and replaced the historic street lamps and street signs in the Colony Hills neighborhood and completed extensive repairs to the Longmeadow Community House. Preservation funds also paid for restoring masonry and wood work and replacing windows at Longmeadow Town Hall.

The Patriots seem to be re-emphasizing the screen pass.

APNew England Patriots running back Stevan Ridley (22) runs with the ball during practice on the second day of training camp at the NFL football team's facility in Foxborough, Mass., Friday, July 27, 2012.

FOXBOROUGH – Stevan Ridley still hears his voice, pushing him, telling him to work harder.

Joseph Addai may have been here and gone before ever making an impact beyond a line in the yearly transactions, but Ridley will still look to the fellow LSU alum for inspiration and advice.

“Unfortunately it just didn’t work out. Why? I don’t really know,” Ridley said. “For me, I just wish the best to Joe. I’m going to stay in touch with him and keep working hard, just like Joe would want me to do.”

Addai’s release came last week after he failed a physical, leaving the New England Patriots with a backfield consisting of second-year backs Ridley and Shane Vereen, undrafted rookie Brandon Bolden, and veteran Danny Woodhead.

In some combination or form, the team is hoping that they there’s enough talent in that group to piece together a solid backfield.

From the early look of things, it appears that Ridley may have the inside track at the top job that was vacated when BenJarvus Green-Ellis signed with the Cincinnati Bengals as a free agent during the offseason.

"Oh, man," Ridley said. "I think that's every little kid's dream, you know what I mean?"

After averaging 5.1 yards per carry last season, Ridley began to ascend into that role but his efforts were cut short when he fumbled twice late in the year and lost the trust of the coaching staff, effectively ending his season.

He spent his winter working on ball protection and has been receiving the bulk of the carries with the first team during the first week of training camp. He says that he feels more comfortable in the offense now, but admits there’s a lot of ground to travel before he’s fully comfortable in the system.

“I feel a little bit better with the offense. Where I need to be, I’m not even close to that,” Ridley said. “I feel a little bit better than last year, but that doesn’t say much. We have a job to come here and do and I’m working hard every day.”

But even if Ridley claims the top job, it seems likely that the job will be handled more by the committee than a single player. A big reason for that is because there has been a new emphasis placed on the screen pass.

New offensive coordinator Josh McDaniels seems to intent on bringing the play back after the team attempted just 45 screen passes last season under Bill O’Brien. Considering that Ridley has little experience in the passing game (17 receptions for 94 yards at LSU), it could open an area for Vereen (74 receptions for 674 yards at Cal) to excel.

“I think it fits into the offense as well (as my game),” Vereen said. “We have to be able to do multiple things as an offense, and we got to be able to do them well.”

“(The screen pass) puts defense on their heels, it opens a new chapter on offense,” he continued. “I enjoy any time that coach can get the ball in my hands, and anything I can do for the team.”

The Patriots will gladly take whatever Vereen can give them this season after his rookie year was effectively wiped out by a series of injuries, limiting him to 15 carries for 57 yards.

That experience has put a chip on his shoulder and he is now looking to prove his worth and improve in all facets of the game.

“I’m hoping to get better, there’s a lot of areas I need to improve on. All of them,” Vereen said. “I’m hungry and more motivated to stay on the field, learn how to take care of my body."

The Patriots could still make a move to bring in a veteran running back, but for now it looks like they are going to roll the dice and see if they can harvest results from their 2010 draft class.

It may be a bit of a gamble, but in Ridley and Vereen the Patriots believe the potential is there for a solid backfield.

Lochte was ahead in the anchor leg, but lost ground to Yannick Agnel in the final lap in London.

APFrance's Amaury Lavaux, left, France's Clement Lefert, center, and France's Fabien Gilot celebrate as they win gold in the men's 4x100-meter freestyle relay final at the Aquatics Centre in the Olympic Park during the 2012 Summer Olympics in London, Sunday, July 29, 2012.

LONDON – Payback. This time, it was France chasing down the United States – and Ryan Lochte, no less – to win another riveting relay at the Olympics.

With Michael Phelps looking much stronger than he did the night before, the Americans built a commanding lead over the first three legs of the 400-meter freestyle relay Sunday and never really had to worry about the defending world champions from Australia.

When Lochte dove into the water on the anchor leg, he was a half-body length ahead of the field and looking to add another gold to his dominating victory Saturday in the 400 individual medley.

Not so fast.

Or, should we say, not nearly fast enough.

Yannick Agnel, playing the chaser role that Jason Lezak did for the Americans four years ago in this same event, sliced through the water and was right on Lochte’s shoulder as they made the flip at the far end of the pool. With about 25 meters to go, they were stroke for stroke. But Lochte, who had already competed in 1,200 meters of racing over the first two days, simply didn’t have enough left to hold off the towering, 20-year-old Frenchman, one of the sport’s real rising stars.

“I gave everything in the last 50 until he cracked,” Agnel said. “In the last 10 meters, I saw that he was really cracking.”

Agnel touched in 3 minutes, 9.93 seconds, having gone exactly one second faster than Lochte over the last 100 meters. Lochte and the Americans dropped to silver in 3:10.38, while Australia – the favorite – didn’t even get a medal. Russia took the bronze in 3:11.41, edging the team from Down Under by 0.22 for the last spot on the podium.

“We knew the Australians would be very strong, but they were very nervous, perhaps like us in 2008,” said Clement Lefert, who swam the third leg for the French. “We were very relaxed, like the Americans in 2008.

“And four years later,” he added, “we got our revenge.”

Phelps settled for his 17th career medal – and first silver – to move a step closer to becoming the most decorated Olympian ever.

“At least I’m in a medal today,” Phelps said ruefully, referring to a fourth-place finish in his first race of the London Games.

But silver was a bitter disappointment for the Americans, who now know how the French felt four years ago.

France had the lead in Beijing and its best sprinter, Alain Bernard, going out on the final leg. But Lezak swam the fastest relay leg in history, drafting Bernard along the lane rope and beating him by a scant 0.08 seconds to keep Phelps on track for his record eight gold medals.

It was one of the greatest races in Olympic history.

This one wasn’t too shabby, either.

“We put out our best four guys and we went out there to try to win it,” Lochte said. “But we came up short. So, I mean, I’m kind of bummed because when you go up on the blocks you always want to win. But serving our country, getting a medal, you can’t be mad about that.”

Lochte hung on the side of the wall, his head dropping toward the water – a much different reaction than he had the night before when he blew out the field in the 400 IM. Phelps stared at the scoreboard for a good 10 seconds before going over to congratulate the French.

Phelps put up the fastest time among the American swimmers, covering the second 100 in 47.15 and showing he still intends to be a force at these games after his disappointing start. Nathan Adrian swam the leadoff leg in 47.89, going out faster than Australian star James “The Missile” Magnussen to give the U.S. an early lead. Cullen Jones was solid, too, in the third spot (47.60).

Lochte was handed a lead of more than a half-second, but he couldn’t hold it. Agnel covered the final leg in 46.74, while Lochte labored home in 47.74.

Agnel’s anchor wasn’t quite as spectacular as Lezak’s 46.06 at Beijing, but the French had no complaints.

“It’s magical, simply magical,” Agnel said. “We didn’t have too much pressure. We did what we know how to do. Now, Olympic champions. It’s brilliant.”

This time, they were the ones on the top step of the podium, looking down at the Americans.

“It’s tough,” Phelps said. “We’d like to be on top, but Yannick has been swimming well all year and those guys put together a great relay. We tried to get ourselves into as much open water as we could. We had four great guys to get up there and swam as fast as we could. We were the ones that the coaches thought were going to have the best shot. We went out there and raced. That’s all you can ask.”

The U.S. coaches will surely come under scrutiny for going with Lochte, who had little experience in the 100 free and had never competed on this relay at the Olympics. But, coming off his dominant showing the first night, it’s hard to argue about going with a swimmer who appeared to have the hottest hand of all.

Phelps completed his collection of Olympic colors, adding a silver to his 14 golds and two bronzes. He’s one away from tying the mark for most career medals held by Soviet gymnast Larisa Latynina and has five more events to take down the record.

In an interesting twist, Bernard will get a gold medal even though he didn’t swim the final. Amaury Leveaux and Fabien Gilot took the first two legs, but Bernard will be rewarded, too, for taking part in the morning prelims. Maybe that will soothe some bitter feelings from four years ago.

It wasn't Gronk's best day.

APNew England Patriots tight end Rob Gronkowski (87) sprays some water on his face during practice on the second day of training camp at the NFL football team's facility in Foxborough, Mass., Friday, July 27, 2012.

FOXBOROUGH – The New England Patriots were once again in full pads for a somewhat intense training camp practice Sunday on the fields behind Gillette Stadium.

The linebackers and running backs engaged in pass blocking drills for the first time, causing some fireworks.

At one point Dont’a Hightower blew fullback Eric Kettani into running backs coach Ivan Fears, causing him to fall to the ground. On another rep, Stevan Ridley and Jerod Mayo let the action spill outside the drill and got into a quick shoving match.

Offensive lineman Jamey Richard left the field with an injury, which was later classified as a concussion, according to the Boston Globe. Tight end Visanthe Schiancoe did not finish team drills.

Linebacker Tracy White, who was injured Saturday, joined the list of 11 players who were held out of action Saturday, including cornerback Alfonzo Dennard, offensive linemen Logan Mankins, Brian Waters, Sebastian Vollmer, defensive lineman Myron Pyror, rookie wide receiver Jeremy Ebert and rookie safety Nate Ebner, among others.

It was a rough day for tight end Rob Gronkowski, who dropped three passes during the team’s fourth training camp practice, including one that bounced out of his hands and into Patrick Chung’s for an interception.

On defense, rookie defensive end Chandler Jones worked with the first team and showed good burst coming off the edge. He also had a pass break-up at the line of scrimmage on a ball thrown by Brady.

Police allegedly found a 9-millimeter semi-automatic gun, 32 bag of cocaine and different prescription drugs in his possession.

Republican file photo

SPRINGFIELD – A long-term investigation done through the Police Department’s North End Initiative resulted in the drug and gun arrest of a city resident.

Pablo Rentas-Torres, 28, of 21 Montmorenci St., apartment 2R, was arrested at about 1:45 p.m., Saturday on a long list of charges including possession of a gun and ammunition without a license, possession of a firearm while committing a felony, possession of heroin, cocaine and prescription drugs with intent to distribute and possession of prescription narcotics, said Police Lt. Alberto Ayala.

Police were doing surveillance on Rentas-Torres when they witnessed him carrying a firearm at the corner of Carew and Knollwood streets and arrested him while he was trying to leave the area, Ayala said.

Along with the 9-millimeter semi-automatic gun, police allegedly found 32 bags of cocaine and a variety of different prescription drugs in his possession, he said.

Rentas-Torres is being held on $25,000 bail. He is scheduled to be arraigned in Springfield District Court Monday, he said.

The North End Initiative is designed to combat narcotics, gangs and violence in that area of the city. It was set up by Deputy Police Chief John Barbieri, Ayala said.

O'Brien continues to be impressed by Edelman's instincts.

AP New England Patriots wide receiver Julian Edelman (11) practices one-handed catches during the second day of NFL football training camp in Foxborough, Mass., Friday, July 27, 2012.

FOXBOROUGH -- New England Patriots special teams coach Scott O’Brien still remembers when Julian Edelman was first sent to him.

He was green, had no idea how to field punts, but O’Brien still felt Edelman contained a world of potential.

”He had some natural instincts, pretty good ball skills, but it was a learning curve for him not only to learn how to catch the ball, but to understand what the ball was doing in the air, how it was going to come down. He worked really hard on it,” O’Brien said.

Four years later, Edelman, a former college quarterback who averaged 10.6 yards per punt return last season, is now one of the better return men in the league.

By returning a 72-yard punt for a touchdown in the Pats’ Week 11 game against the Kansas City Chiefs, a 34-3 victory, he became the fourth player in team history to return multiple punts for scores, joining Troy Brown, Irving Fryar and Michael Haynes.

Edelman, now a wide receiver, says that his success is the result of hard work, preparation and good instincts.

“You can study the scheme of how we’re going to block the defenders and the kickoff team and what you can expect and trust your teammates are going to make their blocks,” he said. “Football is football. There is always going to be a guy there; there is always going to be something there. It’s like NASCAR: you see smoke, put the pedal to the metal, you find the lane and go. That’s how that is.”

O’Brien echoed his sentiments and feels that Edelman should only continue to improve with more experience.

“He still has some things he’s working on. But he feels more comfortable,” he said. “He plays everything before the play even happens, which is what you’re looking for.”

The accident is under investigation and details of what happened are not being released.

CHICOPEE – Police have released the name of the victim of a fatal motorcycle accident but are still investigating the circumstances of the crash.

Joshua Burke, 27, of Granby, was killed in an accident that happened around 3:30 p.m. Friday, Police Lt. Patrick Major said.

The accident happened at the corner of Chicopee Street and Sitarz Avenue. The details of the accident are still under investigation by the Chicopee Police’s Traffic Bureau and not being released yet, Major said.

Police were treating the unattended death as suspicious.

File photo | The Republican

LONGMEADOW – An autopsy of a 39-year-old woman found dead inside her home on 6 Meadow St. was conducted on Sunday, but the results were not released.

The woman, whose name was not given, was found dead Saturday by a neighbor who was asked by the woman’s family to check on her well-being, detective Carl Mazzaferro said.

Police were treating the unattended death as suspicious but said they will not know if she died by foul play until the autopsy was completed.

The merchants have been working together to remind people of alternate routes to downtown since the Davitt Bridge closed.

Republican staff photo by John SuchockiThe William F. Davitt bridge $8.2 million dollar reconstruction project has most of the bridge removed as the crews chip away with machine mounted demolition hammers.

CHICOPEE – A coalition of downtown business owners who have been gathering together to prevent business loss because of the closed Davitt Bridge are now considering a new campaign.

The “It’s easy to get to Chicopee Center”; campaign has been mostly successful, organizers say.

Most business owners said they may have seen a small drop in the number of customers, but those who have shopped elsewhere seem to be returning, said Gail A. Sherman, president of the Chicopee Chamber of Commerce.

“In the summer it is hard to evaluate, but I have not heard complaints,” Sherman said. “People are finding their way to downtown.”

Through the campaign, at least 30 business owners raised more than $20,000 to spend on advertising easy ways people can reach downtown Chicopee. Chicopee Savings Bank owners matched much of the money raised.

The funds have been spent on advertising and show people at least six alternatives to get to downtown without using the Davitt Bridge. The route used the most is from Exit 2 off Interstate 391.

Sherman, who said she used to cross the Davitt Bridge every day to get to work in downtown, said she has not had any problems taking alternate routes.

There have been some complaints about traffic tie-ups at the on and off ramps at Interstate 391. The state has been paying for police to direct traffic there at rush hours, but Mayor Michael D. Bissonnette wants the state to install temporary traffic signals to ease those problems.

Sherman said the group of downtown merchants is now planning to discuss if it should continue the “It’s easy to get downtown” campaign or if they should change the strategy to simply promoting the businesses downtown.

“There are funds that have not been spent,” Sherman said. “Maybe it is advantageous to shift to promote our assets.”

There are a number of recent changes to downtown, such as an outdoor beer garden being constructed at the Munich Haus, an art show at the Defy Gravity skateboard shop and a new West Street Market that opened this spring, she said.

Bissonnette said he will support the merchants, no matter what they decide.

“I would like to see as much community support for downtown as possible. It will encourage others to relocate downtown,” he said.