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Financial meltdown tests Patrick, Mass. leaders
Found: 21 Hours 6 Minutes ago
Union News & Republican - Gov. Deval Patrick is preparing to roll out hundreds of millions in budget cuts.AP Photo/Bizuayehu TesfayeMassachusetts Governor Deval Patrick speaks at a news conference, Thursday, Oct. 2, 2008, in Boston. Responding to a softening local economy, Patrick announced today he will cut spending and implement a series of cost-savings reforms, as part of a five-point fiscal action plan, to address fiscal challenges confronting the Commonwealth.
By STEVE LeBLANC
The Associated Press
BOSTON (AP) -- Gov. Deval Patrick is preparing to roll out hundreds of millions in budget cuts this week as the state grapples with plummeting revenues.
The administration is also expected to dramatically reduce its revenue estimate for the year.
The first round of cuts will be limited to the executive branch agencies over which Patrick has control, including the offices of health and human services, education, transportation, environment and public safety.Patrick has already announced he will cut his own office spending by seven percent and has asked the state's other constitutional offices to cut spending.
State Auditor Joseph DeNucci says he'll institute hiring and salary freezes and order employees to take seven unpaid vacation days....
State police seek 2 sex offenders
Found: 23 Hours 43 Minutes ago
Union News & Republican - Two men with ties to Springfield and Chicopee appear on the new listing of the state's top 10 most wanted sexual offendersBy PATRICK JOHNSON
pjohnson@repub.com
SPRINGFIELD - Two men with ties to Springfield and Chicopee appear on the new listing of the state's top 10 most wanted sexual offenders, according to information released by state officials.
The listing, issued by state police and the state Sexual Offenders Registration Board Thursday, has the names of 10 Level 3 sex offenders who have not registered with the police departments in the communities where they live. Level 3 offenders are the ones deemed by the state to be most likely to commit another sex crime.
Those on the list from Western Massachusetts are Steven M. Cooper, 41, of Springfield, and Jose A. Davila, 38, of Holyoke. Cooper is also wanted for a Springfield rape that was reported March 21.
He is a 5 feet, 7 inches tall black man. He weighs 167 pounds and has brown eyes and black hair. He was previously convicted of rape in 1987 in Georgia and served 20 years in prison.
Davila is 6 feet, 2 inches tall, and weighs 228 pounds. He has brown hair and hazel eyes. He was convicted of statutory rape and indecent assault and battery on a child under 14 years in 1992 and was sentenced to a 3- to 5-year state prison term. ...
Security cameras in place at Chicopee Public Library
Found: 23 Hours 45 Minutes ago
Union News & Republican - Fifteen new interior and exterior security cameras along with a variety of monitoring and alarm upgrades are now in useBy PAMELA H. METAXAS
pmetaxas@repub.com
Bob Stern / The RepublicanMary Jane Trybulski, assistant director of the Chicopee Public Library, showing the HD media presentation LCD screen in the lobby.
CHICOPEE - Fifteen new interior and exterior security cameras along with a variety of security monitoring and alarm upgrades are now in use at the new Chicopee Public Library, giving officials and staff an improved sense of security and safety.
Library director Nancy M. Contois said, "Yes, they are all in, and we have a nice monitor in the lobby that allows us to put announcements on the monitor, which has a running tag line on the bottom. It's a welcome to the Chicopee Public Library, and it's kind of fun as patrons enter the lobby. It's one of the components of the whole package."
"We are able to provide information on our programs and have the capacity to project informational items such as video and graphics and show pictures to promote the library," Contois said. It also functions as a surveillance camera that records those going in and out of the library.
The scrolling feature "is a good way to advertise the library and we are making every effort to get people's attention when they come into the library and help them know what is going on," Contois said.
The system will help library staff monitor equipment and the building inside and outside, she said.
Mayor Michael D. Bissonnette has said the security systems were not part of the original package when the $9.3 million library at 449 Front St. opened in 2004.
There is now surveillance in the rear where the amphitheater is located. There is also sharing of security with the adjacent Chicopee Health Center which also has exterior surveillance cameras.
The $58,000 for the system came from the city's Information Technology Department budget. ADT Security Services Inc. of West Springfield installed it.
Bissonnette said the closed circuit system can also be used to televise seminars and other events.
Several instances of vandalism prompted city officials to upgrade the entire system including the fire alarms.
Changes include number of cameras and locations selected for better identification shots at entrances and throughways, coverage of the parking lot, easy search of video files, expandability to include citywide coverage, remote administration, flexible control for remote viewing by police and others, exterior cameras painted to match architecture and upgrade of burglar alarm system.
Bissonnette said Chicopee Electric Light is now seeking cost estimates for camera surveillance at three downtown intersections. ...
College plans homecoming
Found: 23 Hours 45 Minutes ago
Union News & Republican - Traditional homecoming reunions, athletic events, and cultural activities are scheduled at Westfield State College.By ALEX PESHKOV
apeshkov@repub.com
WESTFIELD - Traditional homecoming reunions, athletic events, and cultural activities are scheduled at Westfield State College on Friday and Saturday.
Kimberly A. Trudeau, the alumni relations director and homecoming organizer, said this week that almost 5,000 of the school's alumni will be "coming home."
She said, "Our alumni love coming back to campus and seeing all the changes, but what they enjoy most is visiting with former professors and staff members." In addition to reunions and sports events, the weekend will offer the fifth annual "blues 'n' brews" festival, theater, and art.
The weekend's theme, "Celebrating Our Past, Present, and Future," will mark milestones in the college's history, such as its 170th year and the 40th anniversary of the urban education program.
Parts of the celebration will recognize the college's expansion downtown with a new art gallery and a college-produced theater production. The gallery opened its doors last month in the Rinnova Building at 105 Elm St.
"It symbolizes the beginning of the process of expanding our presence downtown," said President Evan S. Dobelle at the opening ceremony.
The gallery's first exhibition, which runs through Oct. 31, is entitled "Past Presence."
An artists' reception for the alumni art exhibit, "Past Presence," is scheduled for Saturday from 5:30 to 8 p.m. The gallery also is open from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. on both days.
"We are proud of our alumni and the contributions they have made throughout the state and across the country," Dobelle said.
He said that alumni groups play an important role in the development of the college.
"The Belle of Amherst," a one-woman show based on the writings of Emily Dickinson, will be offered at 8 p.m. on Wednesday through Saturday in Piccolo's Theater at 110 Elm St., opposite the art gallery.
The production is a repeat performance of a sold-out run last August.
The blues 'n' brews festival is scheduled for Saturday from 11:30 a.m. to 6 p.m. near the Woodward Center. Local alumni-rich bands will perform.
The athletic events will feature an alumni softball game, a golf outing, field hockey, volleyball, and soccer games. In the traditional football game, WSC will face Framingham State on Saturday at 1:30 p.m. on Alumni Field. ...
Parish 'family'looks to bishop
Found: 1 Day 3 Hours 43 Minutes ago
Union News & Republican - A church official has told the members of All Saints Parish that he will convey their requests to Bishop Timothy A. McDonnell.By DAVID BERGENGREN
dbergengren@repub.com
AGAWAM - A church official has told the members of All Saints Parish - slated to close along with its two churches on Jan. 1 - that he will convey to Bishop Timothy A. McDonnell their request to keep one church open as an adoration chapel and create a parish in conjunction with the congregation of Sacred Heart on Springfield Street.
With more than 100 parishioners present at St. Therese Catholic Church on Bridge Street on Thursday night, Msgr. John J. Bonzagni, director of pastoral planning for the Springfield Diocese, fielded sometimes heated questions and comments for about two hours.
Referring to the Catholic Diocese of Springfield's pastoral reorganization plan announced last August, Bonzagni said, "With only about 65 priests (expected to be available) in about five years' time, we're trying to design something that 65 priests can serve, without killing them." The diocese now has almost 100 active priests.
Anthony C. Bonavita of Cooper Street said the shortage of priests should not be used as an argument to close the parish's St. Therese and St. Anthony Churches.
"Father Amo is doing a great job going back and forth between parishes," said Bonavita, referring to Father Steven C. Amo, who, since April, has served both All Saints and Sacred Heart, whose church is on Springfield Street.
When the subject of money was raised, Bonzagni, who remained calm throughout the evening, said, "From the beginning (of the diocese's planning process), we took money off the table."
If money is made in the closing of a church or parish, it will stay with local parishes, he said.
"Location is the primary consideration, and then infrastructure," Bonzagni said. "And in Agawam, as far as we know, there is no (need) for three parishes." St. John's Church on Main Street is the third parish in Agawam.
The All Saints parishioners, however, said the human factor should be taken more into account.
"These people you are looking at," John P. Moccio, a city policeman, told Bonzagni, "are basically a family. This is a community . ... What happens here, is if you close this church, you're going to (lose) the identity of this area."
"We draw a distinction between the Catholic faith and the Catholic Church," said Shelia E. Byrne of Westfield. "You fellows sound like you're running a business, which I guess you are."
Amanda R. Bessette, 17, a senior at Agawam High School, fought back tears and said, "It seems like you're abandoning the sheep."
Bonzagni assured the parishioners that the diocese's decisions had been made with the "utmost seriousness."
He said, "We know we're affecting people's lives. We don't fool around with that. Yes, a great deal is being asked of you, and I'm sorry about that."
With the worsening shortage of priests, he added, "Life is changing for all of us - some sooner than others."
Father Amo was supportive of his parishioners' aims. The creation of a name and identity for the combined Sacred Heart and All Saints Parish, and leaving St. Therese open as a chapel with a limited number of Masses, "is a reasonable request," he said.
F. William Euliano Jr., chairman of the Pastoral Council at All Saints, said he thought some progress was made on Thursday.
"I'm happy that we started a dialogue," he said. "I'm hopeful that he (Bonzagni) can persuade the bishop to address our concerns." ...
The heat is on this winter to save money and energy
Found: 1 Day 3 Hours 43 Minutes ago
Union News & Republican - The main purpose of an energy audit is to assess insulation levels in a house.Photo by Don Treeger / The RepublicanJohn B. Saveson, left, an energy adviser for the Center for Ecological Technology, performs an energy audit for Peggy and Murray M. Schwartz in their Amherst home.
Editor's note: The Pioneer Valley Chapter of the American Red Cross and a coalition of agencies involved in fire safety, energy conservation and providing fuel assistance to those in need have been meeting to address the potential problems stemming from record high heating costs this winter. The Sunday Republican and MassLive.com will present information and solutions.
Second of three parts
By HOLLY ANGELO
hangelo@repub.com
Insulate, insulate, insulate.
And, don't forget to seal those air holes, cracks, and gaps.
That is the advice Murray M. and Peggy Schwartz and thousands of other people looking to save money and energy are being told during home energy audits.
"I'm hoping to find out if it makes sense to put more insulation in, especially in the attic and where the major losses of energy are," said Murray Schwartz this week. "At current prices, it would cost over $6,000 to heat this house using the same amount of oil from last year. That's almost double."
The couple lives in a spacious circa-1874 Victorian Italianate house in the center of Amherst. On a recent rainy day in late September, the Schwartzes' home underwent an energy audit through Western Massachusetts Electric Co. that was arranged by the Harold Grinspoon Charitable Foundation.
Last January, the West Springfield-based foundation announced a new initiative called ener-G-save. The foundation is working with the region's utilities and large employers to promote the free energy audits that have been offered for years by the utility companies and are funded by customers through an energy conservation charge on monthly bills.
LEARN MORE
• Save energy: Tips for conserving at home.
• Save money: Utility companies will help pay for certain energy-conserving upgrades.
• Heating costs: How much can you save?
• Register: For a free home energy audit, call the Harold Grinspoon Charitable Foundation's ener-G-save program at (866) 634-3021
Single-family homeowners who sign up for the audits through ener-G-save and have their attics insulated afterward are rewarded with $100.
On top of the $100 given by the foundation, the utility companies, including Western Massachusetts Electric Co., the National Grid, Bay State Gas Co., and Berkshire Gas Co., will pay 50 percent, up to $1,500, on recommended energy upgrades.
"We call ourselves an advocate for the homeowner," said Adin S. Maynard, customer relations representative for the ener-G-save program. "We're doing this because many people aren't aware of the potential energy and dollar savings they can have through a more energy-efficient home. The advantage of going through us is we offer an additional $100 in savings."
The audits are straightforward.
At 1 p.m. sharp, John B. Saveson, an energy adviser for the Center for Ecological Technology, arrived at the Schwartz household. The center is a subcontractor for MassSAVE, a program funded by the utility companies to promote residential energy conservation.
Before examining the house from bottom to top, Saveson sat down with the couple to review basic information about the house, such as the type and number of rooms, type of heat used to warm the house and cook food, age of the steam boilers, how much oil they use, the type of windows, and the current status of insulation. He also reviewed a copy of their latest electric bill, pointing out that the use of space heaters and dehumidifiers, which the couple use, can eat up a lot of electricity.
Energy Audit
"The main purpose of the audit is to assess insulation levels in the house," Saveson said. "Insulation probably offers the best payback of any energy conservation effort."
The house tour began with the basement, where the couple's two furnaces were inspected, and the perimeter checked for air tightness.
On the first and second floors, Saveson checked for wall insulation by probing near the electrical outlets in each of the rooms.
"It tells us whether the wall is insulated, what kind of insulation is in there, and how thick it is," he said.
Up in the attic, Saveson inspected the existing fiberglass insulation, and noticed some air gaps that are compromising the efficiency of the insulation. Blowing cellulose on top of the existing fiberglass will help solve that problem, he said.
The chimney area and windows were also inspected.
After an inspection of the outside of the house, Saveson was ready to sit down and explain his recommendations.
The upshot was that the Schwartzes need to seal up air leakage points throughout the house, blow in cellulose insulation on top of the old insulation in the attic, and blow cellulose into exterior walls on the back and side of the house. The total cost will be $3,565, with the electric company paying 50 percent, up to $1,500.
It is estimated $1,759 will be saved in oil consumption each year. A two-year payback is predicted.
"We were very pleased with the whole thing," Murray Schwartz said a week after the audit. "We decided to go ahead with it. In less than two years, it should pay for itself."
Amy H. Mayer, of Greenfield, had a home energy audit carried out by Berkshire Gas Co., also arranged by ener-G-save, in April. After finding a contractor, Mayer's small Victorian house is now better equipped for another New England winter.
Photo by Don Treeger / The RepublicanJohn B. Saveson, left, of the Center for Ecological Technology, discusses his energy audit with Murray M. and Peggy Schwartz in their Amherst home."There was essentially no insulation on our ground floor, and our attic was not venting properly," Mayer said.
In order to improve the energy efficiency of the house, air sealing vents were installed in the attic, insulation was blown into some walls, the doors were weather-stripped, gaps in the floorboards and windows were caulked, and insulating wraps were installed around the hot air ducts in the basement. The total cost was around $2,500, with Berkshire Gas paying half.
"We almost certainly would not have done it if Berkshire Gas wasn't paying half," Mayer said. "It would have been cost-prohibitive for us. It was a good chunk of money. The proof will be in how we feel when the heat is on and how much natural gas we use.
ABOUT THE SERIES
• Oct. 5, Save lives: Fire officials are worried that a cold winter could mean residents will seek alternate - and dangerous - methods to stay warm.
• TODAY: How can a homeowner save money on heat? First step is a free energy audit to determine energy-saving methods.
• Oct. 19, Save those in need: Hurting for money to heat your home? A coalition of agencies is at the ready to assist.
"Definitely last winter, the house felt drafty. We shouldn't have that this year. Even if we don't save a lot of money in the heating bills, we expect to increase the value of the house."
While Mayer and the Schwartzes are examples of homeowners who needed an energy audit, not every homeowner falls into that category.
The newer the home, the less likely a home energy audit is needed, said Sheila A. Doiron, director of communications and community relations for Bay State Gas. And, not everyone who calls for an audit will get one, she said.
"Homes built before the '80s could really benefit," she said.
Bay State Gas is seeing a 20-percent increase in calls for audits. Saveson said the Center for Ecological Technology has a two-month backlog in its audit schedule, which is unusual.
And, Murray Schwartz was told it will be at least two months before his contractor will be able to start work.
"It's all because of the price of fuel," Saveson said.
Bay State Gas encourages its customers to move forward on energy-efficient measures, whether it is replacing incandescent light bulbs with new compact fluorescent lights, replacing an old refrigerator, or insulating their attic, according to Doiron.
"Investing in energy efficiency is one of the better investments a customer can make," she added. "The fuel you don't use is the best investment."
...
Creativity goal of state panel
Found: 1 Day 3 Hours 43 Minutes ago
Union News & Republican - Gov. Deval L. Patrick signed a bill on Friday to create an advisory panel on boosting the arts, cultural attractions, and innovations.
By DAN RING
dring@repub.com
BOSTON - Gov. Deval L. Patrick signed a bill on Friday to create an advisory panel on boosting the arts, cultural attractions, and innovations.
The new law calls for a 23-member Creative Economy Council to measure the sector's contributions to the state, and to develop strategies to promote and expand it.
The creative sector includes the visual and performing arts, film, digital media, design, advertising, architecture, and tourism. There are about 109,000 jobs in the sector.
Rep. Daniel E. Bosley, D-North Adams, who sponsored the measure, said the creative economy is more than just music and drama.
"Our whole economy is driven by innovation and creativity," he said. "We bring it to everything we do."
Bosley said the council "will formalize the conversation about how to truly capitalize on the brilliant and creative minds here in Massachusetts to support our economy."
Daniel O'Connell, the state secretary of housing and economic development, will chair the council.
The governor will appoint 17 members, and leaders of the House and Senate will appoint six legislators.
Members, who are volunteers, will be named to two-year terms, and they will meet at least four times a year.
"A strong creative sector translates directly to a strong economy here in Massachusetts," Patrick stated. "This legislation encourages the kind of collaboration that assures growth and success."
Among other functions, the council will research studies to identify ways to improve the creative economy.
...
Meltdown leaves tourists unfazed
Found: 1 Day 3 Hours 43 Minutes ago
Union News & Republican - If the Pioneer Valley were a stage, Wall Street didn't have even a cameo appearance during a traditionally busy tourism weekend.By STEPHANIE BARRY
sbarry@repub.com
If the Pioneer Valley were a stage, Wall Street didn't have even a cameo appearance during a traditionally busy tourism weekend.
While fears about retirement, job security and financial health simmer across the nation, travel and consumerism appeared robust in Western Massachusetts Saturday.
After all, the views are free. "Are we focused on what we do have, or what we don't have?" financial consultant James Buchholz, of Springfield, Miss., said at the Poet's Seat Tower in Greenfield, where he and his wife, Marilyn, stopped to take in the panoramic scenery before heading to Vermont.
"I think the media is focused on what we don't have or what might be taken away."
In the end, he said, he believes the economy will level out, and is acting accordingly.
Marilyn Buchholz said she and her husband frequently travel between the Midwest and this area, since their daughter is a local resident. They routinely stop at museums and other attractions, and have not seen a discernible difference in attendance as plummeting stocks and bailouts grip the media's attention.
"I think Americans are pretty resilient people," she said.
Greenfield native Timothy O'Neil, who was taking in views of his hometown and nearby Shelburne and Deerfield, said the waves of tourists moving through Franklin County appeared normal.
"I haven't seen any slump yet. I don't think we're there yet," said O'Neil, 50, a retailer of farm equipment. "My neighbor runs one of those tourist-trap shops on the Mohawk Trail, and he said he's busier than he thought he'd be."
However, there was some trepidation in his voice as he considered the future. "You know, I'm looking forward to being 60, 70 and retiring ... if I can get there," he said.
Americans everywhere are wondering if their 401K accounts are circling the drain in the midst of the financial crisis, triggered largely by a mortgage crash which has done seismic damage to world credit markets.
Still, packed parking lots at McDonald's and other layovers off I-91 and Route 2 suggested some discretionary income remains available.
Software consultant Terry Nichols and his girlfriend, June Merritt, of St. Augustine, Fla., struggled to map out the most traffic-free Greenfield to New York City route.
Nichols said he has seen a slight dip in Florida tourism, but New England appears unaffected from his perspective - particularly judging from the bumper-to-bumper snarl he and Merritt were caught in getting to the area on Friday.
"You wouldn't know the difference now," said Nichols, who came to take in the foliage before continuing on to Times Square later Saturday. "But in the long-range, I think it's going to be pretty dire."
Falling gasoline costs may have encouraged more traffic this weekend. Prices at local pumps ranged from around $2.90 to around $3.17 per gallon, according to a sampling Saturday, compared to an average of about $3.50 for regular unleaded fuel a month ago.
However, local vendors appeared to be more focused on the larger financial picture than the price of fuel.
Linda H. and Geoffrey Post, founding directors of the Paradise City Arts Festival, an annual fixture in Northampton, admitted they were holding their breath before the gates opened Saturday morning.
"I didn't know whether to expect 500 people lined up at the gate or 20," Geoffrey Post said. When there appeared a respectable 300 waiting for the gates to open, the Posts and more than 250 artists breathed sighs of relief.
"I think they're coming here because it's a great distraction," Linda Post said of the 14-year-old festival, which offers an array of affordable and big-ticket art.
She said she saw buyers in every booth as she reviewed activity throughout the day, and plenty of shoppers were toting bags or large paintings back to their cars.
As for the economy, Post said the festival has survived other potential disasters.
"It's always something, whether it's bad weather or politics or financial things like what's happening now," she said. ...
Forum to plumb ideas for Springfield strategy
Found: 1 Day 3 Hours 43 Minutes ago
Union News & Republican - A renowned consulting team is looking for vision and ideas from the public as it creates a long-term economic development growth strategy.
By PETER GOONAN
pgoonan@repub.com
SPRINGFIELD - When Kalamazoo, Mich., wanted to turn things around, its "promise" of free college tuition to children in its public schools was aimed at making fundamental changes to address the underlying problems associated with blight.
A "Springfield promise" might not necessarily be in the future for this city, but a renowned consulting team is looking for vision and ideas from the public as it creates a long-term economic development growth strategy.
The team hopes its effort will serve as "road map" for the city to recover its economic health over the next 20 years. To that end, the consultants will conduct their first community forum on Thursday, saying that public ideas then and thereafter will be vital to the project's success. The forum will start at 6:30 p.m. in Central High School.
The Springfield Economic Growth Initiative study is being conducted by MassINC, a public policy think tank based in Boston, and the University of Massachusetts-Dartmouth Urban Initiative.
"This needs to be an inclusive process," said Edward M. Lambert Jr., director of the urban institute and a former mayor of Fall River, last week. "This has to be owned by the entire community, not a segment of the community. What we really want to hear is people's aspirations for the city."
Rather than focus on immediate matters, such as repairing streetlights, the consultants said they hope to gain the public's vision and learn what should be done to expand economic development and job growth opportunities by examining its strengths, weaknesses and needs.
The group will look toward finding long-term solutions to the economic ills, and education will be a key component of the plan, leaders said last week.
The $125,000 first phase of the study, involving research and data-gathering, was funded by the city's Finance Control Board last May. The consultants are comparing Springfield with several "peer" communities in the Northeast to see what Springfield can learn from other communities' successes.
Representatives of MassINC and the Urban Initiative said there have already been meetings with various stake-holders in Springfield, including business leaders, Chambers of Commerce officials, and neighborhood council presidents. They met with The Republican's editorial board last Wednesday.
John R. Schneider, executive vice-president of MassINC, said the study is a "long-term vision around economic growth" in Springfield over the next 10 to 20 years.
This, he said, will include addressing the vision for city neighborhoods, the school system, jobs and "what it will take for the city to have a vibrancy, a vitality downtown, an energy and excitement."
He said, "The idea is not to focus on a tree, a broken limb, or a branch, but the entire forest. I think we can put together a plan that, if implemented, can make Springfield a better place to live."
The economic growth study was preceded by a related but more limited study by a team of researchers from the Urban Land Institute in Washington, D.C. The institute study focused on an immediate- to five-year plan for Springfield, including specific projects in neighborhoods and real estate uses, said David B. Panagore, the city's chief development officer.
Many of the recommendations of the Urban Land Institute have already been taking place, including demolition of the York Street Jail and the Chapman Valve Co. building in Indian Orchard, and the allocation of $6.2 million for urban renewal in the South End. Panagore described the recommendations as "all table-setting devices" for what leaders hope will be a "20-year vision" formulated in the new study.
The current study will create an economic development "road map" for Springfield, Lambert said. With public ideas, there is "ownership, accountability and benchmarks," he said.
"We want to hear from every segment of the community," Lambert said, adding that such ideas help create an action plan rather than a study that "sits on a shelf."
In addition to having community forums as part of the current study, the consultants plan to create a steering committee comprising residents and business people.
Last year, MassINC and the Brookings Institution, a think tank in Washington, issued a report on the needs of 11 so-called "gateway cities" in Massachusetts, including Springfield and Holyoke, and a proposed agenda for renewal. They are working with economic development leaders in these communities to discuss policy change and action.
The new study focuses strictly on Springfield. In the second phase, the consultants will work with an even broader group of stake-holders to develop the components of the economic growth strategy, said the consultants.
A final report will be released in late 2009 or early 2010. Mayor Domenic J. Sarno strongly supports the effort, backing new approaches and results. ...
Military families speak out at Boston Common
Found: 1 Day 11 Hours 11 Minutes ago
Boston Herald - A rally drew hundreds to Boston Common yesterday to protest the Iraq war and memorialize fallen soldiers."There are several of us who are Gold Star (parents) and......
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