http://www.axtora.com/homesites/us/massachusetts/worcester-county/ Worcester County, MA News http://www.axtora.com/homesites/us/massachusetts/worcester-county/content/d8ade669e6599869e004a7da972235f3.html LEOMINSTER Police allege a Lowell man had more than 1000 Ecstasy pills in his car and was poised to sell the drugs in Leominster on Wednesday morning according to court documents http://www.axtora.com/homesites/us/massachusetts/worcester-county/content/474adb60205c87c48aea96a3d9804aff.html LANCASTER Rescuers recovered the body Tuesday of Clinton resident Jeffrey Andrejczyk 30 who went missing Monday when a hunter reported seeing him swept away in the Nashua River http://www.axtora.com/homesites/us/massachusetts/worcester-county/content/35ae18b9bec86ce8aaa956f3175505aa.html When Rodney M Glasgow was a high school student at an allboys private school in Baltimore he didn't tell anyone he was gay http://www.axtora.com/homesites/us/massachusetts/worcester-county/content/25e8bd633cb663fc2ea089d9b751933f.html HUBBARDSTON A cardswipe system for emergency personnel likely will be available to Hubbardston Gardner Ashburnham Westminster Winchendon Leominster Fitchburg and Lunenburg thanks to a 400000 federal grant http://www.axtora.com/homesites/us/massachusetts/worcester-county/content/5391af132ec129a4a40b6a690947b7f3.html Qteros which was founded in the Pioneer Valley is leaving for Worcester County Republican photo: David MolnarSusan B Leschine of Leverett Chief Scientist and Prof of Microbiology at the University of Massachusetts right and William A Frey President and CEO of Belchertown with four bottles from left biomass corn stover the second bottle early stage of frermintation third bottle midfermintation and the last bottle contains the final product Ethenol Their company QTEROS is moving from its Hadley location to Central MassachusettsBy STAN FREEMAN and JIM KINNEYStaff writersHADLEY Born in the soils around Quabbin Reservoir and found there by a researcher at the University of Massachusetts at Amherst a tiny microbe that could revolutionize the ethanol industry is in every sense homegrownExcept that the company now known as Qteros but formerly called SunEthanol which was founded in the Pioneer Valley two years ago to develop the socalled Q microbe to fulfill that great promise will soon be leaving for Worcester County and a larger spaceWith so much effort being made to bring biotechnological companies to the valley what went wrong that one that began here with such massive potential is leaving It's very disappointing said Allan W Blair president and chief executive officer of the Western Massachusetts Economic Development Council last week I can say we've done as much to try and keep SunEthanol as we've done for any other companyThe council identified locations in Springfield and around Amherst that it hoped would serve the growing company's needsBut Susan B Leschine the UMass microbiologist who first identified the unique properties of the Q microbe and is Qteros's chief scientist said the needs are too urgent and could not be met in Western MassachusettsWith ambitious plans to go from pilot to fullscale demonstration project and onto commercial production in perhaps three years the company needed a large facility that was movein ready It found such a site near Worcester but has not announced its exact locationWe needed to move fast and there really wasn't a facility here Leschine said The company has to have a facility that is all ready to go It had to have highpressure steam and it had to have a high bay to bring in the size of fermenters that they needQteros recently finished raising 25 million from venture capitalists including BP and Soros Fund Management That money will pay for what is hoped to be a fast rise into the main stream of the ethanol industryQteros was looking for that funding at the time it was looking for a location according to Blair Often he said the funding sources for a project have a lot of say about where a company will locate Ellen Bemben is president and CEO of Regional Technology Corp another agency that encourages hightech development in the Pioneer Valley She said Qteros founders wanted to stay in this area but the investors wanted a Cambridge mailing address for at least one of the company's offices to gain marketing benefitsThere is a cache It says you have arrived she said And let's face it: There is some truth to thatWhat magical things does the Q microbe do that make it such a coveted business prospect If you put plant matter such as the waste stalks of a corn field into a vat full of the microbes they will break down the plant carbohydrates into sugars and then ferment the sugars into ethyl alcohol otherwise known as ethanolIndeed for Qteros opportunity is knockingSoaring energy prices in the last two years meant a rush to produce ethanol a substitute for gasoline And in the United States most ethanol has been produced from cornHowever because so much of the global corn crop was being diverted to make ethanol prices for corn and other crops soared resulting in food shortages in some parts of the worldThe Department of Energy expects that ethanol can eventually replace a third to half of the nation's use of gasoline and Congress has mandated producing 36 billion gallons of biofuel by 2022 with the provision that less than half of that can derive from cornWhat is needed now are socalled secondgeneration biofuels those made from plants that are not food crops themselves and that is where the Q microbe shines It works almost as well with tough plant material such as switchgrass as with cornAlso the Q microbe eliminates one expensive step necessary in most other ethanol production processes Typically converting plant carbohydrates to ethanol begins with two steps First enzymes which are chemicals convert the carbohydrates to sugars Second microbes ferments the sugars into ethanol The Q microbe does bothIt will change the industry Leschine said The main hurdle to overcome is one of economics to make the process cost effectiveJef Sharp Qteros's executive vice president said the Western Massachusetts Economic Development Council as well as University of Massachusetts and area legislators made the argument for the company to stay in the valley They really worked hard to keep us here I have to give them credit Sharp said I'm as much of a cheerleader for Western Massachusetts as any of them So it was a difficult decision to makeBut in addition to specific requirements for a building there were also requirements for workers because Qteros plans to add 30 jobs over the next nine months he saidThey are highly scientific jobs that are very much biotech related and there is a much more concentrated skill set east of here unfortunately he saidThe economic development council according to Blair introduced Qteros's management to other hightechnologybiology companies that have successfully recruited staff in the regionMichael J Graney also of the economic development council acknowledged that while colleges and universities in the Pioneer Valley graduate a fair number of biologists chemists and engineers each year a greater number graduate in the eastern part of the stateThat's always an issue when you have these highly skilled knowledge jobs he said I think we made a case that they could find what they are looking for here The statistics looked good They didn't look as good as Cambridge but they looked goodOfficials at the University of Massachusetts which has a financial stake in the company since the microbial process was developed by a university researcher probably have mixed feelings about the move out of Hampshire County On one hand the local presence of the company will be lost But on the other hand the university stands to gain financially if the company is better positioned commercially by making the moveUMass officials also worked to keep Qteros in the region said spokesman Edward F BlaguszewskiIn a series of discussions with Qteros he said the campus engaged with the city of Springfield the town of Amherst and organizations such as the Regional Technology Council and the Pioneer Valley Life Sciences Institute Ultimately it is the company that decides where to invest and expand based on its criteria Staff writer Diane Lederman contributed to this report http://www.axtora.com/homesites/us/massachusetts/worcester-county/content/9edde1a3171bfcc52bd30d081ab331d2.html WORCESTER A woman and her boyfriend were arrested and arraigned this week in courts here and Springfield in connection with the severe head injury suffered by her 3yearold daughter at a city hotel officials said http://www.axtora.com/homesites/us/massachusetts/worcester-county/content/b16cf168ce4adec089692d18991cace5.html Some will be thankful for family and friends others for health and happiness and some were thankful for the generosity of strangers Republican photo: Mark MMurrayGeorge F Newman director of distribution and support services for Big Y Foods checks over some of the 3500 fresh Butterball turkeys that were being given to three local food banks the Food Bank of Western Massachusetts the Connecticut Food Bank and the Worcester County Food Bank Shown here on a truck at the Cottage Street Springfield warehouse the turkeys were delivered WednesdayBy PATRICK JOHNSONpjohnsonrepubcomSPRINGFIELD Some will be thankful for the company of family and friends others will be thankful for health and happiness and some were thankful for the generosity of strangersBut everyone should be thankful for a forecast calling for relatively mild temperatures and sunshine Thursday and much of the holiday weekendThere are not any real weather worries until late Sunday said Meteorologist Ed Carroll of abc40 Thursday's forecast calls for 43 degrees and sunny he said It should remain that way each day until late Sunday when there is a chance of rainThroughout the area communities are putting on Thanksgiving dinners for the poor and homelessBig Y Foods Inc captured the spirit of Thanksgiving on Wednesday by donating 3890 surplus turkeys weighing 65000 pounds in all to three area food banksThe Food Bank of Western Massachusetts Connecticut Food Bank and Worcester County Food Bank picked up the turkeys from the Big Y distribution center on Cottage StreetThe food banks have a great need and we have a lot of extra turkeys so it worked out well said Craig Thomson the Big Y perishable managerGeorge F Newman director of distribution and support services said the extra turkeys were the result of Big Y overanticipating a demand that never materializedThe turkeys need to be ordered in April for the following November and with the economy being the way it is right now we had a lot of leftover fresh turkeys he said In Westfield the 104th Fighter Wing donated 104 turkeys to the Westfield Salvation ArmyThis is the fifth year the fighter wing at Barnes Airport donated turkeys which were paid for through the base's Munitions Flight charity drive They were delivered on Nov 21In addition the unit donated 20 turkeys to Margaret's Pantry in Holyoke The extended holiday weekend did get off to a rough start Wednesday as freezing temperatures and some overnight precipitation caused slick roads during the morning commuteIn Charlemont state police said slippery road conditions caused a 6:30 am headon crash between a tractor trailer and a pickup trick on Route 2State police trooper Kyle T Gleick of the Shelburne Falls barracks said emergency responders needed the Jaws of Life to free the driver of the pickup from the wreckageThe driver whose name was not available was taken to Franklin Medical Center in Greenfield with injuries that are not considered to be lifethreatening Gleick saidThe tractor trailer was heading west when it lost control on some ice and went into the oncoming lane and collided with the pickup Gleick saidThe accident remains under investigationState police attached to the Northampton barracks meanwhile reported a minor crash on Interstate 91 southbound near Exit 19 by the Calvin Coolidge Bridge There were no injuries The car skidded out of control after hitting a patch of black ice police saidBy the afternoon traffic throughout the region particularly on the Massachusetts Turnpike and Interstate 91 was heavy but flowing relatively smoothly according to state policeOn the turnpike the volume of vehicles caused the flow of traffic to slow down in both directions said Sgt Timothy Finn of the state police Office of Media RelationsIt's just slow sluggish he saidOn the eastern end of the pike traffic was halted for a time after a truck in Weston lost a part of its load he said The mess was cleaned up quickly and traffic was able to resume he saidStaff writers George Graham and Elizabeth Roman contributed to this report http://www.axtora.com/homesites/us/massachusetts/worcester-county/content/793b4737c72a8159ad8c4da0bb8c3dda.html Big Y Foods Inc which overanticipated demand for turkeys this year on Wednesday donated 3890 surplus birds to 3 area food banks THANKSGIVING MEALS These are the Thanksgiving events for the public Thursday: Springfield Breakfast sponsored by the Springfield Rescue Mission 7 am 19 Bliss St Open Pantry Thanksgiving dinner noon High School of Commerce 415 State StAmherst Not Bread Alone annual Thanksgiving day meal noon First Congregational Church 165 Main St Doors open at 10:30 amChicopee Fairview Knights of Columbus dinner noon to 2 pm Castle of the Knights 1599 Memorial DriveHolyoke Kate's Kitchen dinner noon to 1:30 pm 51 Hamilton StMonson First Church dinner 1:30 pm Fellowship HallNorthampton Manna Soup Kitchen dinner noon Edwards Church on Main StreetWare United Church dinner noon to 1:30 pm Fellowship Hall at 49 Church StWest Springfield Community dinner noon to 2 pm St Thomas the Apostle Church School on Route 20Westfield Westfield Soup Kitchen dinner noon 101 Meadow St Samaritan Inn dinner 6 pm Free StreetBy PATRICK JOHNSON pjohnsonrepubcom SPRINGFIELD Some will be thankful for the company of family and friends others will be thankful for health and happiness and some were thankful for the generosity of strangers But everyone should be thankful for a forecast calling for relatively mild temperatures and sunshine Thursday and much of the holiday weekend There are not any real weather worries until late Sunday said Meteorologist Ed Carroll of abc40 Thursday's forecast calls for 43 degrees and sunny he said It should remain that way each day until late Sunday when there is a chance of rain Throughout the area communities are putting on Thanksgiving dinners for the poor and homeless Big Y Foods Inc captured the spirit of Thanksgiving on Wednesday by donating 3890 surplus turkeys weighing 65000 pounds in all to three area food banks The Food Bank of Western Massachusetts Connecticut Food Bank and Worcester County Food Bank picked up the turkeys from the Big Y distribution center on Cottage Street The food banks have a great need and we have a lot of extra turkeys so it worked out well said Craig Thomson the Big Y perishable manager George F Newman director of distribution and support services said the extra turkeys were the result of Big Y overanticipating a demand that never materialized The turkeys need to be ordered in April for the following November and with the economy being the way it is right now we had a lot of left over fresh turkeys he said In Westfield the 104th Fighter Wing donated 104 turkeys to the Westfield Salvation Army This is the fifth year the fighter wing at Barnes Airport donated turkeys which were paid for through the base's Munitions Flight charity drive They were delivered on Nov 21 In addition the unit donated 20 turkeys to Margaret's Pantry in HolyokeThe extended holiday weekend did get off to a rough start Wednesday as freezing temperatures and some overnight precipitation caused slick roads during the morning commute In Charlemont state police said slippery road conditions caused a 6:30 am headon crash between a tractor trailer and a pickup trick on Route 2 State police trooper Kyle T Gleick of the Shelburne Falls barracks said emergency responders needed the Jaws of Life to free the driver of the pickup from the wreckage The driver whose name was not available was taken to Franklin Medical Center in Greenfield with injuries that are not considered to be lifethreatening Gleick said The tractor trailer was heading west when it lost control on some ice and went into the oncoming lane and collided with the pickup Gleick said The accident remains under investigation State police attached to the Northampton barracks meanwhile reported a minor crash on Interstate 91 southbound near Exit 19 by the Calvin Coolidge Bridge There were no injuries The car skidded out of control after hitting a patch of black ice police said By the afternoon traffic throughout the region particularly on the Massachusetts Turnpike and Interstate 91 was heavy but flowing relatively smoothly according to state police On the turnpike the volume of vehicles caused the flow of traffic to slow down in both directions said Sgt Timothy Finn of the state police Office of Media Relations It's just slow sluggish he said On the eastern end of the pike traffic was halted for a time after a truck in Weston lost a part of its load he said The mess was cleaned up quickly and traffic was able to resume he said Staff writers George Graham and Elizabeth Roman contributed to this report