Police said the suspect lured the victim, a 10-year-old boy, into the woods during a Chicopee house party and sexually assaulted him.

Michael Houle

SPRINGFIELD – A 30-year-old Chicopee man who pleaded guilty to downloading child pornography on a computer at the Holyoke Public Library in June was arrested by police here Friday night and charged with raping a child with force.

Sgt. John M. Delaney said that Michael Houle, of 99 Rochester St., Chicopee, lured the boy into the woods during a house party in that city and sexually assaulted him there.

Houle, wearing a monitoring bracelet, also threatened to kill the boy, Delaney said.

Chicopee police referred the case to their counterparts in Springfield after determining that the sexual assault occurred just over the city line. The boy told his parents what had occurred shortly after the assault and Chicopee police took Houle into custody several hours later when he turned himself in at their station, Delaney said.

Houle was charged with rape of a child with force, indecent assault and battery on a child under 14 and threatening to commit a crime (murder).

The house party was held on the street where Houle lives, Delaney said. The exact address, however, was not immediately available.

Houle, slated to be arraigned Monday in district court, has been served with a violation of probation notice pertaining to his child pornography case.

Houle, who admitted to downloading child pornography on computer at the Holyoke Public Library, received a probationary sentence on June 3 in Hampden Superior Court.

Houle pleaded guilty on that June 3 date before Judge C. Jeffrey Kinder to three counts of possession of child pornography. Six other similar counts against Houle, who had been free on bail, were dropped by the prosecution.

Kinder accepted the sentence that was jointly recommended by prosecution and defense lawyers with a condition that Houle remain away from the public library. Houle was also ordered to undergo sex offender evaluation by the Probation Department and could face counseling if it’s found necessary.

A woman using the library computer on Dec. 12, 2008 reported to library staff that pornographic images were appearing on it, according to assistant district attorney Patrick S. Sabbs. The matter was then reported to police who seized the computer as part of the investigation.

It was discovered by forensic investigators that the material had been downloaded on Dec. 10, 2008, during a certain time period. Further investigation found that Houle had also visited Facebook and accessed e-mail using the same computer at that time, the prosecutor said.

Houle admitted his actions in the Holyoke case to detectives, saying he was sexually abused as a child and didn’t understand his attraction to the child pornography, Sabbs said.

Sabbs described the action by Houle at the library as “a one time incident, and “unfortunately for him, he chose a public library to accomplish that.”

The case prompted a review of Holyoke Public Library policies regarding such incidents and the process by which police should be notified. Police Chief Anthony R. Scott was angry because officials failed to report the incident to police for three days.

Ludlow police charged Michael S. Bryant, 21, and Daniel R. Dacruz, 20 of Ludlow, and Nathaniel M. McPhail, 17, of Chicopee with the robbery of a man Monday in the parking lot of a Center Street restaurant.

Ludlow Police DepartmentFrom left, Nathaniel M. McPhail, Michael S. Bryant, and Daniel R. Decruz

LUDLOW - Police arrested two Ludlow men and a Chicopee teen in connection with the robbery of a man in a car in the parking lot of a Center Street restaurant on Monday afternoon.

The victim reported to police that two men threatened him with a knife and a handgun inside his car at the parking lot of McDonald’s, 420 Center St., said Ludlow police Sgt. Daniel Valadas. The two men got into another car with a third man and drove off, he said.

The victim told police they made off with a cell phone, some gold jewelry and $35 in cash. He told police he knew the two men who had robbed him and had just given them a ride from the bridge at Indian Orchard.

Ludlow issued a regional look out for the three men and their vehicle and they were spotted about 30 minutes later by a state police trooper at the CVS on Center Street, Valadas said.

Arrested were Michael S. Bryant, 21, 22 Erin Lane, Ludlow, Daniel R. Decruz, 20, of 29 Letendre Ave., Ludlow, and Nathaniel M. McPhail, 17, of 268 East Main St. Chicopee.

Bryant and McPhail were charged with armed robbery. Dacruz was charged with unarmed robbery. Police added a charge of indecent exposure after he exposed his genitals to police while he was being booked at the police station.

Police found two knives in the car but the handgun was not recovered, Valadas said.

They are due to be arraigned Tuesday in Palmer District Court.

There was no promise of funding to do any of the about $20 million of work that is estimated to be needed.

John Suchocki / The Republican09.21.2010 | CHICOPEE - Mayor Michael Bissonnette, left, shows Lt. Gov. Timothy Murray a map of the Uniroyal / Facemate site.

CHICOPEE - City officials have been working through a legal and environmental quagmire when trying to tear down buildings, clean up decades of contamination and plan for redevelopment of one of the most troubling former industrial site in the area.

Tuesday Lt. Gov. Timothy P. Murray announced the city will not have to do the work alone any more.

The 72-acre former Facemate and Uniroyal site was selected as one of six to be involved in a state project that spurs cleanup of so-called brownfields, or former contaminated industrial sites, so they can be redeveloped.

The other projects in the Brownfields Support Team initiative are in Gardner, Somerville, Chelmsford, Attleboro and Brockton.

“This site is particularly attractive,” Murray said, while standing in front of the Uniroyal site. “We have 72 total acres, much of it surrounded by waterfront.”

The governor’s office launched the first Brownfields Support Team in 2008, where a wide variety of agencies work together to offer expertise and solve the many problems that come with trying to acquire and clean the different sites. This is the second round.

Some of those which meet together at least monthly include representatives from the Massachusetts Department of Environmental Protection, Massachusetts Development Finance Agency, the Attorney General’s office, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and the federal Department of Housing and Urban Development.

Missing was any commitment for funding. It is estimated to cost $20 million to tear down most or all of the 23 abandoned factory buildings and clean up contaminates.

“We are confident we will secure state and local funding and that will eventually lead to private funding,” Murray said.

In the first round, more than $8 million was committed to assist the clean up of the five properties, officials said.

Mayor Michael D. Bissonnette pledged local tax revenue will not be used. Already $1.3 million in federal Community Development Block Grants has been spent to tear down six of the oldest and most dilapidated buildings on the site this year.

Michelin North America Inc., heir to Uniroyal, is paying for a $4 million cleanup on part of the property as well, Bissonnette said.

But the effort has been frustrating, Bissonnette said, talking about the legal quagmire involved with acquiring the long-abandoned property and the red tape involved with funding a $1.2 million EPA removal of vats of solvents on the site.

Others praised Bissonnette for tackling the project when he took office five years ago.

State Rep. Joseph F. Wagner, D-Chicopee, said the site has potential to be “Chicopee’s crown jewel.”

“If these things were easy they already would have been done,” he said.

Murray also visited Holyoke High School Tuesday to praise students for increasing test scores and tour the school, which is under construction.

The workshop will be held for parents on Sept. 27.

CHICOPEE - City educators are taking more steps to reduce bullying following this summer’s adoption of a new policy that is designed to end harassment in schools.

A workshop for parents and guardians will begin at 7 p.m., Sept. 27 at the Edward J. Bellamy Middle School on Pendleton Avenue. Speakers from the Massachusetts Aggression Reduction Center will discuss a variety of topics, including bullying over the Internet and violence prevention.

The event is free and parents are welcome to bring their children. There will be no child care services provided.

In early August, the School Committee approved a new bullying policy to meet with the new anti-bullying law adopted by state lawmakers in the spring. The policy kept most of the tenets of the previous school regulations banning harassment, which included a requirement that all reported complaints or incidents be investigated by school staff.

The policy also leaves punishment of offenders up to the school principals or delegated staff mainly because each case can be different.

Recently the School Committee also discussed taking more steps to combat bullying.

Committee member Mary-Elizabeth Pniak-Costello asked about a new computer program that she read about that documents all cases of bullying so schools can keep a better record of problems.

Superintendent Richard W. Rege Jr. said the School Department is researching a different system, which is free and offered through the special education department.

“We do have to report it (bullying) on-line,” Rege said, speaking of the law.

He said the other system, which is being offered, has not been shown to work yet.

“It has a $2,500 cost and it is not our proven program,” he said.

At the same time, member Michael J. Pise asked if peer mediation is continuing this year. The program allows students in middle school and high school to be trained and serve as intermediaries to help negotiate disputes between other students.

A new training session has already been held and the program will be offered in some schools, Rege said.

A final vote to approve the new policy is scheduled for Oct. 6

File photoAdam Lamontagne

CHICOPEE - The School Committee took a first vote to solve a problem that plagued the group nine months ago.

The committee is scheduled to take a second vote Oct. 6 to adopt a new policy on the election of the vice chairman and representative to city government.

“The (new) policy says in the case of a tie, the most senior member gets appointed as vice chair until we can break the deadlock,” said Adam D. Lamontagne, the committee member who proposed the new policy.

The senior member is defined as the person who has served on the board the longest. If there are two or more people who have served the same number of years, the vice chairman will be selected among the senior members with a coin toss, he said.

The policy also calls for the committee to vote annually to place representatives in the seats. In the past, it has only done it on election years although state regulations call for annual reorganization.

The need for the change was discovered in January when the bitterly divided committee deadlocked 6-6 when trying to elect a vice chairman to the committee.

The committee spent about six weeks arguing about the problem until one of the candidates, Mary-Elizabeth Pniak-Costello, withdrew. Her opponent, Donald J. Lamothe was then selected.

During the deadlock, committee members discovered the policy flaw. When the mayor was added as School Committee chairman more than a decade ago, it increased the board to 12 members and left open the possibility of a tie.

In most cases the even number does not matter because a motion will fail if there is a tie vote. But when a tie occurs when selecting a vice chairman, neither party is selected.

The deadlock is especially a problem because the committee policy bans the board from conducting business until a vice chairman is elected.

In January, the committee voted to suspend its rules so key votes, such as approving the payroll, could take place until the deadlock could be broken.

Committee member Michael J. Pise said he believes the new policy will prevent the problem created by the even number of School Committee members.

The City Council told the two they were concerned about their complaints.

John Suchocki / The Republican09.22.2010 | CHICOPEE - Business owner Ken Wiilliamson outside his store, Williamson's Clothier, at 233 Exchange St.

CHICOPEE – A reconstruction program designed to improve Chicopee Center and attract more businesses is harming the few located along Exchange and Center streets, according to businessmen.

Businessmen Donald R. LaValley, who has owned Cabot Liquors for 28 years, and Kenneth S. Williamson, the long-time owner of Williamson’s Clothier, asked City Councilors for help in reducing the harm the road and sidewalk construction has caused.

“There was a mistake made,” LaValley said. “I only work on a 19 percent margin. A little mistake is huge.”

LaValley described a six-week nightmare that has dramatically reduced his profits. For the first time in nearly 30 years, he is worried he may lose the business.

One problem is there has been little discussion with businesses about how to ease the ill effects of construction. Before the three-day Labor Day weekend, workers put no-parking signs on all the streets even though construction did not begin until Tuesday.

Because that is a big weekend for liquor stores, LaValley said he lost many sales.

“I need a chance, and I’m not getting it,” he said.

If he was warned, LaValley said he could have better planned, but he was only told about the work the day before it began.

Williamson said caution tape was strung in front of the door of his store for 2½ days before he took it down so customers could enter.

“I was not even told when the sidewalk in front of my street was going to be torn up,” he said. Weeks later, there is still a dirt trench in front of his store, and someone took a rock from a dirt pile and threw it through his front window.

He was concerned no one consulted with him about the project. For example, he said, a tree is to be planted right in front of his window, which will take away from his business.

“Most of my customers do not live here. People come in, and they can’t believe what they have to go through to get to my store,” Williamson said.

The City Council told the two they were concerned about their complaints, referred them to their public works subcommittee and asked for an emergency meeting.

“This city dropped the ball for these businesses,” Councilor Dino A. Brunetti said.

Stanley W. Kulig, director of the Department of Public Works, said the sidewalk and road reconstruction is being done by Varandas & Sons Construction, of Ludlow.

City officials have been talking with downtown businesses and specifically worked with LaValley to design the handicap ramp from the sidewalk into the store.

But LaValley said the ramp is only 3 feet wide, which is narrower than the previous one, and so poorly designed some have fallen off it.

Because the money for the job came from federal stimulus funding and had to be used immediately, Kulig said the city had to design the project quickly.

“I know we have been responsive to businesses,” he said, adding he had not heard of any of the business owners’ complaints.

The boy was struck just moments after he and another child had been at a corner store to buy candy.

Photos by Michael S. GordonKyier Doucette's aunt, Karlee Wilson, holds a photo of her nephew during a hearing for Angel Ortiz, Monday in Hampden Superior Court. Ortiz was sentenced to up to four years in prison after he striking the six-year-old boy with his car and killing him last September.

SPRINGFIELD – A 35-year-old Chicopee man was sentenced to 3½ to four years in state prison Monday after admitting he was the driver of a vehicle that struck and killed a 6-year-old boy crossing a street in Holyoke.

Angel M. Ortiz, of 32 McKinstry Ave., pleaded guilty in Hampden Superior Court to motor vehicle homicide while operating under the influence of alcohol and negligence.

Angel M. Ortiz

Ortiz admitted to striking and killing 6-year-old Kyier Douchette, of 82 Clemente St. in Holyoke, while the boy was crossing Main Street near the intersection of Cabot Street at about 4:30 p.m. on Sept. 25, 2009.

The boy was in a crosswalk with another child, who was not injured. The children had just left a corner store after buying candy.

Assistant District Attorney James M. Forsyth said that Ortiz’ blood alcohol was .11, while the legal limit is .08.

He said that Ortiz pulled over after striking the boy with his 1997 Ford Explorer and when police arrived they noticed an open bottle of alcohol and Ortiz said he had been drinking.

About two dozen members of Kyier’s family were in the courtroom. D’Aven Wilson, Kyier’s father, told Velis that the boy filled his life with joy.

“I wanted to give him the world,” Wilson said. “His life was just about to take off, he would be going to first grade.”

Toni Wilson, Kyier’s grandmother and D’Aven Wilson’s mother, told Judge Peter A. Velis that the youngster was fiercely loyal, funny, silly, talented, loved the outdoors and loved his many family members.

“Our family, as well as society, has suffered a great loss,” she said.

Family members told Velis that Kyier was a talented drummer, playing drums at his church.

Defense lawyer Joseph A. Franco asked Velis for a sentence of 2½ years to a county facility, rather than state prison, with 18 months to be served and the rest suspended with probation for five years.

He said that Ortiz has had bone cancer, and is having a recurrence and needs medical care.

Velis said he would recommend to the state Department of Corrections that Ortiz be allowed to serve his state prison sentence in the Hampshire County Correctional Center in Northampton where he has been held pending trial.

Forsyth said that Ortiz had a minor record including some past speeding offenses and a failure to stop for police. He said that in this case Ortiz was not speeding.

Franco said that neither Ortiz nor his passenger saw the boys crossing in front of the car, saying the height of the car was a factor in their line of sight.

The mayor wanted a paralegal slot and to increase the hours of a part-time solicitor to full-time.

Republican file photo

CHICOPEE - The City Council has rejected a proposal to hire a full-time city solicitor to lead the law department and also eliminated the vacant position of paralegal.

The issue has been debated back and forth since May when Michael D. Bissonnette proposed expanding the office to include a paralegal at a salary of $42,000 and upgrading one of the part-time city lawyers to a full-time solicitor who would oversee the office.

The City Council originally approved the proposal for the paralegal during budget deliberations in June, but rejected the proposal to hire a full-time solicitor that would increase the salary of one of the existing part-time lawyers from $47,000 to $75,000.

The request was submitted again and the Council debated it in August. It rejected the proposal for a full-time solicitor but decided to debate it more in ordinance subcommittee after discussing the possibility of eliminating the new paralegal position and instead allowing Bissonnette to hire a full-time lawyer.

Bissonnette argued both positions were needed to make the office more efficient. Now the city has been missing deadlines and some paperwork is not being done because there is only one full-time solicitor and the department director, is part-time.

City Councilor John L. Vieau had voted for the proposal to expand the hours of a part-time lawyer in previous votes, but changed his vote this week.

“I was under the impression we would save money on hiring outside lawyers, but I was told that was not the case,” he said.

The Council voted 7-4 against hiring the solicitor. Since the paralegal position was not filled, it voted 10-1 to eliminate that job as well.

“I don’t think it needs to be full-time,” Councilor Dino A. Brunetti said. “I will look at next year.”

Jean J. Croteau, a councilor, said he continued to support the proposal of a full-time lawyer, saying he believed the office does need the more professional, full-time staff.

When eliminating the new job of paralegal, members said it was never filled, it can’t be needed as much and the money can be spent elsewhere.

“We did allow funding for the paralegal and he didn’t fill the position,” said Councilor Roland R. Belair.

Four businesses had been cited for announcing events such as fund-raisers.

File photo by Dave Roback / The RepublicanCarol Gomes a clerk at the Country Trading Post on Burnett Road in Chicopee stands below the electronic sign wishing her a 65th birthday in June. While such messages used to violate the city's sign code, the City Council recently changed the code allowing them.

CHICOPEE – The City Council has modified its sign ordinance to address a controversy that got local businesses in trouble for announcing school fund-raisers, congratulating high school graduates and wishing employees a happy birthday.

This summer city officials accused four business owners of misusing their electronic message boards. They said the ordinance that permits the signs only allows owners to promote their businesses or other businesses that rent space in buildings they own.

When the four owners explained they use the signs to promote community service events such as Girl Scout cookie sales or car washes for youth group or to post a joke or help a nearby business, city councilors agreed it is time to review the ordinance rather than fine the sign owners.

The City Council voted 11-0 to accept the first reading of the modified regulations and send it to the Planning Board and its subcommittees on ordinance and zoning before taking a final approval.

“Hopefully people who have these will use judgment to what a public announcement is,” Councilor James K. Tillotson said.

The new ordinance proposal removed the statement that allows the so-called accessory signs to be used solely to advertise or inform people of any activity or occupation that is happening on the property and replaces it with a variety of uses that will also be allowed.

“Permitted uses include time, date, temperature and public service announcements,” the new regulation states.

But Tillotson said he understands there could be problems because the statement is so broad. While he said he hopes people will especially avoid political endorsements, the ordinance does not ban them because they are a Constitutionally-protected form of speech.

In previous meetings, Carl D. Roy, owner of the Country Trading Post and Restaurant, said he believed a lot of the complaints were sparked because he supported one of his long-time neighbors David M. Amo on his sign when he unsuccessfully ran for Ward 6 City Councilor.

He accused Ward Councilor Timothy D. McLellan, who beat Amo, of making the complaints in retribution. McLellan denied the accusation.

Tillotson said the new ordinance is the best solution several officials could find to solve the problem.

“If it doesn’t work we will go back to the drawing board,” he said.

A total of 25 proposals for charter schools were selected as semi-finalists from 42 submitted statewide.

Three Western Massachusetts charter school proposals passed the first test and directors are now being invited to submit a final plan to the Department of Elementary and Secondary Education.

The three are among 25 petitioners who were invited to move ahead to the next phase to open a charter school. This summer officials announced 42 proposals had been submitted statewide with eight for Western Massachusetts.

Founders face a Nov. 8 deadline for their final applications. That will be followed by interviews and public hearings in the areas where the schools are proposed.

The state Board of Education will select the schools to open, in February.

Of the three local proposals, the Veritas Preparatory Charter School would accept Springfield children and Collegiate Charter School would serve Springfield, West Springfield and Chicopee students. The Paulo Freire Social Justice Charter School would serve most Western Massachusetts communities.

“We are very excited about this particular project and that the reviewer saw the potential value in it,” said Robert K. Brick, of Northampton, who is leading the effort to open the Paulo Freire School, which would serve 600 students from fifth through 12th grade.

Brick, the founder and former director of the Pioneer Valley Performing Arts Charter High School in South Hadley, said he is working with people who have been worked with other charter schools or are social justice activists.

He is negotiating to purchase or lease a building in the flats of Holyoke for the school.

“It is something I’ve wanted to do for a long time. I wanted (Pioneer Valley for the Arts) to be located in Holyoke,” he said.

A group of professors from American International College are spearheading the creation of the Collegiate Charter School, for about 700 students in grades six through 12, said Frank E. Vargo, a doctoral professor of psychology and educational administration.

“We are targeting student populations that are underserved,” he said. “We know the college process starts well before you start college.”

The school would be located on or near or on the college campus and older students would have opportunities to take college courses, he said.

Rachel M. Romano, a former middle school teacher and assistant principal in Springfield, said she is working with the national Building Excellent Schools, to create the Veritas Preparatory Charter school for 324 students in grades five through eight.

“They are a support organization, they are not a management organization,” she said.

Romano, who also worked as a principal at a Framingham charter school, said she is excited to start the school.

“I think it is really about having high expectations for students and giving them the structure and support so they are prepared for high school,” she said.

Dogs, chickens and other pets were blessed by Father Pedro Oliveira, a Franciscan friar from the Basilica of St. Stanislaus in Chicopee.

Photo by Dave Roback / The RepublicanErin Doyle-Gallerami, center, of Wilbraham, holds Riley, and Sister Joyce Wise of Springfield holds Shamrock as Father Pedro Oliveira of the Basilica of St. Stanislaus in Chicopee performs a blessing of the animals at Mercy Medical Center in Springfield Friday.

SPRINGFIELD – Among the furred and feathered animals being blessed Friday were Apple the therapy Akita, Shamrock, a rescued dog, and Buffy, a television-watching chicken.

Charles McGonagle brought his black pug, Buelah Belle, from Agawam; Ralph and Ann Zavarella had their Maltese, Taia, from Suffield; and Karen and Michael Kozaczka brought Mya, a German shepherd, from Ludlow.

They had all come for the Blessing of the Animals at Mercy Medical Center in Springfield. While rain drizzled, they stood under a covered portico of the medical building as Father Pedro Oliveira, a Franciscan friar from the Basilica of St. Stanislaus in Chicopee, blessed each animal individually by name.

He asked God to always give them a loving home and good health, and he sprinkled them with holy water. Oliveira said the ceremony serves as a reminder to everyone “of our stewardship, to give love, care and respect to God’s animals.”

The blessing is given in honor of St. Francis of Assisi, who founded the Franciscan order in the 13th century. His feast day is Oct. 4.

St. Francis is considered the patron saint of animals among Catholics. “He was deeply in love with all of God’s creation,” said Oliveira.

Erin Doyle-Gallerani said she brought Riley, a mixed breed dog, “for all the joy and peace she has brought me. I pray for her to have a long and healthy life.”

“This is giveback,” said Judith Kelly, of East Longmeadow, who brought a thickly furred Akita named Apple to be blessed. “She is my blessing.

“Apple is a therapy dog at Weldon Rehabilitation Center and three nursing homes,” said Kelly. “In the past year, she’s made 150 visits.”

Sister Joyce Wise brought a mixed breed dog named Shamrock to the event. “She was an abused dog,” said Wise, who adopted her from the Thomas J. O’Connor shelter.

Sister Madeleine Joy, of West Springfield, arranges Mercy’s Blessing of the Animals, now in its fourth year. “I believe that God loves all creatures,” she said.

Joy, who leads support groups for people who are grieving and people with cancer, said animals can have a healing effect because of their unconditional love.

“They have a central place in recovery and companionship in people’s lives,” she said.

While many a dog was blessed, Buffy, a blond Buff-Orpington hen came to the event in the arms of Deborah Black-Komendecki.

“We love all our chickens,” said Black-Komendecki, who lives in an agricultural area of Holyoke, “but this is our favorite.

“She’ll sit on my lap for an hour at a time. She watches TV with me. She’s an absolute riot. She watches me play computer games – she likes ‘Minesweeper.’”

Black-Komendecki and her husband have 49 chickens. The younger ones lay eggs, but they are all treated as pets, and they die of old age.

The record for the highest attendance was set in 2009 with 1,260,487 people attending the fair.

Republican staff photo by Don TreegerPatricia Hastings of West Townshend, VT., buys a Maine baked potato from Peg Altobelli of Agawam in the Maine building on Sunday, the last day of the 17-day Big E.

WEST SPRINGFIELD – The Eastern States Exhibition fell 32,069 people short of breaking the attendance record set last year, after four days of rain soaked the fairgrounds during the last week of the fair, keeping people away.

Although this year’s Big E failed to break the record for attendance set in 2009, G. Wayne McCary, president and chief executive officer of the exposition, said he had no complaints about the 17-day event that ended Sunday.

“It has been a remarkable run no matter whether we passed the last record,” he said.

A total of 1,228,418 people attended the fair despite the continuing lagging economy. Since the majority of people visit the fair as a day trip, it shows a lot of people continue to look for entertainment close to home, he said.

The attendance total is the third-highest in the history of the fair. The highest total came last year when 1,260,487 people came to the Big E.

“One of the benefits is admission to 90 percent of events is free,” he said.

Some of the highlights were the circus, which was full for each of its three daily shows for nearly all of its 17 days. Patrons can enter the circus at no charge but seating is limited so sometimes people had to be turned away, McCary said.

The Mardi Gras parade continued to be popular. On weekends, the parade starts at 5 p.m. but during weekdays that changes to 8 p.m. This year the Big E added a floats-only parade at 1 p.m., which was praised by many, McCary said.

“I think the food has become the rage with the fried butter and the Craz-E burger,” he said. “It is well known some people eat their way through the fair.”

Katelyn Bradbury, of Vernon, Conn., agreed. She came at 5 p.m. to get a last chance to attend, even though she had been there on another day.

“It is the Big E. We like to come here twice,” she said. “I think the food brings us back ... I like the corn dogs and fried dough.”

A variety of scheduling conflicts meant the last day was the only time Joseph and Jane Carrubba, of Pepperell, could come with their daughter, son-in-law and grandchildren.

“We come to see the ambience of it and to meet really nice people like the family we were sitting next to” while watching the parade, Joseph Carrubba said.

His wife said she really enjoys the parade while Joseph Carrubba said the state buildings are his favorite.

Because all vendors must commit to attending the fair all 17 days and must remain until the gates close at 10 p.m., the fair is the same on the first and last day. The only changes are with the livestock shows that rotate during the fair, McCary said.

The daily theme for the last day was a celebration of Special Olympics. This is the second year the organization was honored with its own day and the first time any charitable cause was given its own day, he said.

Athletes for the Special Olympics did demonstrations of a variety of their sports. They also allowed people to play some of the games.

“We try to think of ways to involve the fair-goers so they can play and learn about the Special Olympics,” said Heather Leigh White, of Chicopee, coordinator for Western and Central Massachusetts.

About 250 athletes from the six states participated in opening ceremonies, did demonstrations and marched in the parade.

While lining up for the parade, bocci players Rex Young and Katherine Meunier, both of Springfield, traded puns about their sport.

“You just bowl me over,” Young said.

“Oh, spare me,” Meunier responded.

Young wore a number of medals around his neck and carried a 5-foot inflatable Spiderman on his shoulders for the parade.

“I’m a Spiderman fan and I feel we should have a Spiderman in the parade if the Macy’s (Thanksgiving) parade has one,” he said.

Young explained he also at one of the booths at the Big E and sells the inflatable toys.

Brown said the U.S. Senate has spent just 10 days talking about jobs since he was elected.

HOLYOKE – U.S. Sen. Scott P. Brown thinks voters will send a message on Election Day similar to the one they sent last January when they elected him to the Senate.

And he’s traveling the country, including stops stumping for Senate candidates in Connecticut and Pennsylvania, in hopes of making that come true.

“I need other new people there to help,” Brown said Monday at a luncheon sponsored by the Chicopee Chamber of Commerce and the Greater Westfield Chamber of Commerce. “There are a lot of candidates out there who are moderate and they can help.”

Brown also expressed frustration that since he was elected to the Senate Jan. 17 that body has only spent 10 days by his estimation debating jobs. He contrasted that with what he hears from business owners across the state and country and even people he’s met while touring the Middle East to talk about national security.

"They said, 'We need jobs so Al Qaeda doesn’t recruit our young men,'" Brown said. “We need jobs so we can get our pomegranates to market, to develop our economy so we can have security and you guys can go home.”

At home, extending the Bush-era tax cuts, which are due to expire in January, would grow jobs, Brown said. He pointed out that the $250,000-a-year income cutoff the Obama administration is proposing would, in practice, raise taxes on many small business owners who file taxes as individuals.

A crowd of about 400 business leaders came out to meet Brown.

An updated version of this story is now available - click this link to be directed to it

Speaking in Holyoke, Brown expressed frustration that the Senate has debated jobs only 10 days since his election.

The Republican / John SuchockiU.S. Sen. Scott Brown, R-Mass., addresses the Chicopee Chamber of Commerce and the Greater Westfield Chamber of Commerce at a luncheon at the Log Cabin Meeting and Banquet House on Monday.

HOLYOKE - U.S. Sen. Scott P. Brown, R-Mass., thinks voters will send a message on Election Day similar to the one they sent last January when they elected him to the Senate.

And he’s traveling the country, including stops stumping for GOP Senate candidates in Connecticut and Pennsylvania among others, in hopes of making that prediction come true.

“I need other new people there to help,” Brown, a Republican, said Monday at a luncheon sponsored by the Chicopee Chamber of Commerce and the Greater Westfield Chamber of Commerce. “There are a lot of candidates out there who are moderate, and they can help.”

He’s also campaigning for Republican candidate for governor Charles D. Baker.

Brown addressed a crowd of about 400 business leaders and local officials at the Log Cabin Banquet and Meeting House.

Brown expressed frustration that since he was elected to the Senate on Jan. 17, that body has spent only 10 days by his estimation debating jobs. He contrasted that with what he hears from business owners across the state and country and even people he’s met while touring the Middle East visiting troops and learning about foreign affairs.

“They said ‘We need jobs so Al Qaeda doesn’t recruit our young men,’ ” Brown said. “We need jobs so we can get our pomegranates to market, to develop our economy so we can have security and you guys can go home.”

The Republican / John SuchockiSen. Scott Brown signs an autograph for Donna M. Bliznak, who is with PeoplesBank.

Westfield Mayor Daniel M. Knapik struck a similar note. He said Westfield alone has more than 1,000 unemployed people by the state’s last count.

“That’s simply unacceptable,” Knapik said.

Brown said extending the Bush-era tax cuts, a bit of unfinished business left behind when Congress recessed last week, would be a step in the right direction. The Obama Administration has talked about extending some of the cuts for income levels up to $250,000 a year. But Brown said that ceiling would exclude many small business owners.

He said he’s taken criticism for voting with Democrats, especially on cloture votes that end debate and move the process along. He voted for the financial reform bill only after getting changes in it that helped MassMutual Financial Group and Liberty Mutual Group.

“The Democrats are in charge,” he said. “Guess what? They are all Democratic bills, or otherwise they don’t get passed.”

He said he voted against a jobs bill only because it was to have been funded with new borrowing. He wanted to fund it with unused federal stimulus money.

But, he said, if there were a stronger presence by Republicans in Washington, especially Republicans who are willing to work with Democrats to get things done, the Obama administration would likely have to compromise as well.

The 10 buses will come with diesel-fueled engines with electric motors.

The Republican file photo

Updates a story posted Monday at 2:42 p.m.

U.S. Transportation Secretary Raymond H. LaHood on Monday announced that the Pioneer Valley Transit Authority in Springfield will receive $6.2 million federal grant for purchasing state-of-the-art electric hybrid buses.

Mary L. MacInnes, the authority’s administrator, said the money will pay for 10 buses. The buses will come with diesel-fueled engines with electric motors. There is no date yet for when the buses will be delivered.

“We were thrilled when our application was accepted,” MacInnes said on Monday. “I wasn’t sure we would get an award through this particular program.”

The $6.2 million for the Pioneer Valley authority is among $776 million in grants awarded by the Federal Transit Administration for 152 projects to transit providers in 45 states and the District of Columbia. The agency reviewed nearly 400 project applications representing $4.2 billion in funding requests from transit providers across the country.

The grants are for buses, bus facilities and equipment.

The grant for the Pioneer Valley authority comes after the agency received a special $745,689 federal grant in July to establish an interactive passenger information system. The system will give the elderly and disabled passengers around the clock access to real-time traveler, trip-planning, scheduling and customer-service information.

Just last month, the Pioneer Valley Transit Authority received 29 new buses as part of a major upgrade financed by federal stimulus dollars. Another couple of additional buses are also scheduled for arrival.

Also previously, the authority was equipped with 20 new vans purchased by federal stimulus dollars. Those vans arrived in December and January and are used for transportation of the elderly and disabled.

Those new buses and vans were purchased with some of $16.2 million the authority received last year from the federal stimulus law signed by President Barack H. Obama.

The new buses and vans are replacing old vehicles.

U.S. Reps. Richard E. Neal, D-Springfield, and John W. Olver, D-Amherst, and U.S. Sen. John F. Kerry all issued statements in support of the grants.

“These hybrid buses will meet our regional public transportation needs, lower emissions, and reduce our dependency on foreign oil,” said Neal, who brought LaHood to Springfield in June for the unveiling of the State Street corridor project.

The Federal Transit Authority estimates that more than 40 percent of the nation’s buses are currently in poor to marginal condition. The department released a report in June - The National State of Good Repair Assessment Study - which estimated that the cost of bringing the nation’s rail and bus transit systems into a state of good repair is close to $78 billion.

The repair money was made available in response to the needs cited in this study and reflects the department’s commitment to strengthening and modernizing transportation across the nation, LaHood said.

Even with the new buses and vans purchased with last year’s stimulus and the 10 new electric hybrid buses, the authority still needs 26 additional buses and 30 additional vans to bring the fleet to a level where the authority wants it to be, MacInnes said.

The largest of the 15 regional transit authorities in the state, the agency has a fleet of 174 buses and 144 vans, according to its website. In a recent year, about 12 million passengers boarded agency vehicles, according to December report by the state Department of Transportation.

The authority provides fixed-route bus service and paratransit service to 24 communities including Amherst, Chicopee, Holyoke, Northampton, Palmer, Springfield and Westfield.

Subsidized by state and federal money and local assessments, the authority offers service to the elderly, the disabled, students and others who may not have automobiles.

The veterans' services office changed its hours to 7 a.m. to 3 p.m.c

Republican file photo

CHICOPEE – Reacting to a change in hours for the veterans’ services department, the City Council is reviewing its ordinance that calls for all city departments to be open from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.

“I’m not critical about the veteran’s office ... this has sat on our books for so many years,” City Councilor James K. Tillotson said.

The issue came to the City Council’s attention recently when members learned the hours had been changed from 7 a.m. to 3 p.m., unlike the traditional 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. most other departments are always open.

The change was made after Kimberly A. Babin, a master sergeant in the Air Force Reserves, was appointed as veterans director. She said the department received approvals from the human resources department before changing the hours.

“The majority of our veterans come in the morning,” she said.

During the recent weeks when veterans phoned for information or stopped in for benefit checks, staff asked them about the office hours. Most said they either liked the 7 a.m. start or had no complaints about it, she said.

Babin said she was unaware of the ordinance until she learned that the issue was a concern of the City Council’s.

Employees said the office has not followed the 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. requirement for a number of years. Since 2000 it has been operating from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m., she said.

“I would recommend the mayor request the ordinance be repealed,” Tillotson said.

Councilor Timothy D. McLellan said he is concerned that the change could start problems with other departments.

Tillotson said he agreed that there could be come complaints from others who would prefer hours other than the 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.

The event will support Friends of the Chicopee Public Library

CHICOPEE – Sisters Colleen and Madison Humel were the last of more than 100 acts to walk on stage and perform a Miley Cyrus song together.

“Hopefully we made it. We got a little after 3 p.m. and there were lot of good acts,” said Colleen, 14, a ninth-grader at Chicopee High School.

It turned out it didn’t hurt to go last. Their performance – Madison, 12, a seventh-grader at Edward J. Bellamy Middle School sang and Colleen accompanied her on the piano – was one of 12 acts selected as finalists in the “Chicopee’s Got Talent” competition Saturday.

For five hours students from grades three through 12 performed two-minute musical acts to help raise money for the Friends of the Chicopee Public Library.

“I thought the talent was really amazing,” said Dan Kane, director of the Dan Kane Singers. “The talent was raw, a lot of students and children had never touched a microphone.”

The Chicopee Friends of the Library was searching for ways to raise money and Kane, who has performed concerts to benefit the organization, suggested a talent show.

All city public and private schools could enter up to 10 acts to compete in the first round. Finalists will perform Oct. 23 in a concert at Chicopee High School with Dan Kane.

Because of the large volume of acts, each was given two minutes. They moved quickly but it took five hours for all of them to be completed.

After the event, five judges deliberated and selected finalists. The judges were Kane, Fred Marion, of Holyoke who has his own band; Robert Ferrier, a music professor at Holyoke Community College, Mark G. Todd, a choral teacher at Holyoke High School and Lauran Beluzo, 14, a singer from East Longmeadow.

Students could sing, play instruments or perform in a band. Most students sang and 11 out of 12 finalists were singers. The other, Andrew Dusssault, 15, of Chicopee High, played guitar.

The other 10 finalists are: Carley Conners, 17 of Comprehensive High; Julieanna Sigura, 8, Streiber School; Taylor Beauregard, Lambert-Lavoie School; Tom Chen, 18, Holyoke Catholic High; Ben Allard, 9, Streiber School; Alyssa Vieau, 11, Fairview Memorial Veterans Middle; Kalista Gonzalez, 10, Lambert-Lavoie School, Naomi Ortiz, 15, Chicopee High; Ann Marie Flores, 16, Chicopee High; Amaris Gagnon, 16, Holyoke Catholic High.

Desean T. Martinez, 17, a Chicopee High senior, performed his own rhythm and blues song “Lifetime Girl.” While he didn’t win, Martinez who has been singing for some time, said what he really wanted to see was what other students had to offer.

“There were a lot of young kids who had talent I was really impressed,” he said.

Police allege that Asselin assaulted Partyka with a knife, robbed him of money, a cell phone and credit cards and tried to strangle him by putting a pillow over his face and wrapping an electrical cord around his neck.

NORTHAMPTON – A Hampshire grand jury has indicted a Chicopee man for home invasion, armed robbery and other charges in connection with an Aug. 6 assault on an elderly man.

Jamie R. Asselin, 34, was being held at Hampshire County Jail on $250,000 bail pending future court appearances. Most court documents connected to this case list his address as 49 Syrek Drive, Chicopee, but one of the documents has his address as 196 Corthell St., Springfield.

Asselin was arrested on a warrant Aug. 10. His indictments list charges of home invasion, armed robbery, assault and battery with a dangerous weapon on a person over 60, assault and battery on a disabled person and larceny over $250 from a person over 60.

Police allege that on Aug. 6, Asselin entered a South Hadley home where Donald W. Partyka was present and assaulted him with a knife, robbed him of money, a cell phone and credit cards and tried to strangle him by putting a pillow over his face and wrapping an electrical cord around his neck. Asselin was arraigned on these charges in August in Eastern Hampshire District Court in Belchertown, where he was also charged with intimidating a witness.

When he set bail at $250,000, Eastern Hampshire District Court Judge John M. Payne Jr. cited the nature and circumstances of the alleged offenses, the defendant’s record of convictions and his failure to appear at a court proceeding.

Finn, a Democrat, and Neffinger, a Republican, debated the state's economy, taxes and casinos.

The Republican / Don TreegerDemocrat Michael J. Finn, left, and Republican Gregory C. Neffinger, candidates for the 6th Hampden District state representative seat, listen to a question during a debate Tuesday night at West Springfield Middle School.

WEST SPRINGFIELD - Candidates for the 6th Hampden District state representative seat discussed Massachusetts' economy, taxes and casinos among other topics in a public debate Tuesday night at West Springfield Middle School.

Republican Gregory C. Neffinger, 51, an architect, faces West Springfield Town Council chairman Michael J. Finn, 40, a Democrat, on Nov. 2. They are seeking the seat being vacated by James T. Welch, D-West Springfield, who is running for the state senate seat being vacated by Hampden DA candidate Stephen Buoniconti, a Democrat.

Neffinger and Finn offered differing opinions on boosting the state’s economy, cutting taxes and the state budget. Both agreed casinos in the state will help improve the economy.

Each said they will abide by voters’ wishes if Question 3, which will roll back the state sales tax from 6.25 percent to 3 percent, passes. But Finn said protection of "core services such as public safety, schools and veterans services are essential.” Neffinger said he would like to see the tax reduced to 5 percent first.

“It can be done,” said Neffinger of the sales tax cut. “It will be good for businesses since companies are now just about breaking even.”

Finn stated support for voters but cautioned that passage of Question 3 “will create an immediate $300 million state budget shortfall.”

Both candidates indicated support of casinos, although none are proposed for West Springfield.

“Casinos will change the economic climate,” said Neffinger.

“Casinos are the only viable options available at this time to boost our economy,” offered Finn.

The 6th Hampden state representative district encompasses all of West Springfield and parts of Chicopee and Springfield.

Tuesday’s debate was recorded and will be broadcast over the town’s cable channel 15.

The debate was hosted by the West of the River Chamber of Commerce.

A similar debate is scheduled for Thursday featuring candidates for the 3rd Hampden District state representative post and Hampden District state senate position. The debate will begin at 7 p.m. at Roberta G. Doering School, the former Agawam Middle School.

State Rep. Rosemary Sandlin, D-Agawam, will face Southwick Selectman Nicholas V. Boldyga, a Republican, and Agawam School Committee Vice Chairman Anthony C. Bonavita, running as an independent. Also on the agenda Thursday will be a debate between Welch and Agawam City Councilor Robert A. Magovern, a Republican, for the district’s senate seat.

Spelman was runner-up to Buoniconti Hampden district attorney Democratic primary.

Republican file photoStephen E. Spelman, former Democratic candidate for Hampden district attorney.

SPRINGFIELD – Assistant District Attorney Stephen E. Spelman has announced that he is supporting State Sen. Stephen J. Buoniconti in the race for the next Hampden district attorney.

Spelman was the second-highest vote getter in the race, won by Buoniconti, to be the Democratic candidate for district attorney.

Spelman and Buoniconti are slated to hold a press conference today outside the Hampden County Hall of Justice courthouse to formally announce the endorsement. Buoniconti faces independent candidate Mark G. Mastroianni in the November general election.

Spelman said, “I have known Steve Buoniconti for approximately twelve years as a friend and colleague, dating back to our days working together in the Hampden County DA’s office, and have always had the utmost respect for him as a person and professional."

"Steve was a dedicated and effective prosecutor, which I witnessed on a daily basis when we served together in the DA's office," Spelman said of Buoniconti. "Steve knows the people and needs of Hampden County, and understands the importance of a community approach to fighting crime and making our neighborhoods safer. I believe he is the best candidate for this important job and I am proud to endorse him.”

Buoniconti said, "Attorney Spelman ran an excellent campaign and his lifelong dedication to serving his community and country speaks volumes of his character and commitment to public service. I am honored to have earned his endorsement.”