The savings in energy costs is projected to be more than $2 million over 20 years.

Associated Press

LUDLOW – The Board of Selectmen has signed a contract with Borrego Solar Systems of Lowell for a 20-year contract for the lease of 14 acres of the town landfill for a photovoltaic generation system.

Borrego Solar Systems of Lowell will lease the landfill from the town for 20 years for the installation of solar panels on the capped town landfill on Holyoke Street for the production of electricity to be sold to Western Massachusetts Electric Co.

“This will save the town $140,000 a year,” said James P. “Chip” Harrington, chair of the town’s Energy Committee.

He said that in exchange for the lease of property to the solar company the town will get a credit for its electricity purchases.

Electricity now costs the town 9 cents per killowatt hour, Harrington said. Estimates are that the town would come down to 4 or 5 cents per kilowatt hour, he said.

Town Meeting member Joseph Santos had asked whether the capped landfill would not be better used for athletic fields.

Harrington said such a proposal would require the relocation of ventilation pipes at the landfill. He said parents are unlikely to support having their children play sports on a capped landfill.

Borrego was chosen after eight competitive bids were received, Harrington said.

At a special Town Meeting last October, the proposal to lease 14 acres of the landfill to Borrego Solar Systems was approved by a majority show of hands, subject to the negotiating of a contract by a committee.

The project must still be permitted by the state Department of Environmental Protection, Harrington said.

Harrington had estimated that permitting by the state could take approximately six months, followed by a six-month construction timetable.

The town should start realizing the cost savings in fiscal 2014, Harrington said.

Over the life of the 20-year contract with the town, there should be “over $2 million in savings,” Harrington said.

Firefighters from East Longmeadow, Ludlow and Hampden provided mutual aid.

3/29/2012, Wilbraham, Photo by Neil A. Hawley, Firefighters work at the scene of a house fire at 15 Pleasant View Rd. in Wilbraham. Wilbraham Fire Department was assited by Ludlow, East Longmeadow and Hampden Fire Departments.

WILBRAHAM - Firefighters were summoned to a house fire on Pleasant View Road at about noon on Thursday.

Abc40 / Fox 6 reported that the home at 15 Pleasant View Road was fully engulfed.

Firefighters from a number of communities, including East Longmeadow, Ludlow and Hampden, were also at the scene.

Firefighters remained at the scene as of about 1 p.m. and additional information was not immediately available.

A forum is being planned for April 24 to talk about drug use in the community.

LUDLOW – Police Chief James McGowan has agreed to pay half the cost of a school resource officer position out of next year’s Police Department budget, Selectman William Rooney said.

Rooney made the comments to town residents at a recent selectmen’s meeting.

Residents asked whether they should talk to the police chief if the position is not funded next year.

“You should talk to me,” Rooney responded.

Rooney is urging residents to attend an April 24 forum to get the community to begin to combat the problem of teen drinking and drug use.

Rooney says the community has a drug problem, and it needs to start talking about it.

Rooney first made the comments at a forum held at Baird Middle School in February. The forum was called to update parents on efforts to combat bullying by students, but Rooney said the drug problem is another problem which needs to be addressed.

The school district is planning the April 24 forum on teenage drinking and the effect of alcohol and drug use on students’ growing and developing brains.

The School Department is expected to be asked to fund the balance of a school resource officer in the schools from its fiscal 2013 school budget.

Parents at the February forum said there is a problem with abuse of the prescription drug Oxycontin in the community. They said there are homes in town where Oxycontin is being sold to teens.

Oxycontin use can lead to addiction and increased house and car breaks, Rooney said.

Police Officer Paul Dobek said that restoring a police officer position at the high school would be part of the solution to solving the drug problem in town.

Rooney said many parents think that drug use will not affect their families and are surprised to find out that it is prevalent in their neighborhoods.

Restoration of a school resource officer position will help police to be more effective in dealing with teen drug use, Rooney said.

The cause of the fire had not been determined.

Updates a story posted Thursday at 1:08 p.m.

WILBRAHAM – Firefighters on Thursday extinguished a fire at 15 Pleasant View Road that extensively damaged the garage and a car inside it and caused smoke and water damage to part of the Cape Cod style home with dormers.

The owner was home when the fire broke out in the garage, but escaped unharmed. Firefighters rescued a cat from the house.

Firefighters said they were waiting for the state fire marshal to determine the cause of the blaze.

The heat of the fire caused a propane tank in the garage to rupture and explode, but the cause of the fire had not been determined. A car inside the garage was destroyed.

The Fire Department was assisted by mutual aid from East Longmeadow and Hampden. The Ludlow Fire Department responded and manned the Wilbraham fire station.

Firefighters responded to the fire shortly after noon. The fire was brought under control around 1 p.m.

Both men must not have unsupervised contact with children under 18 years old.

The Republican | File photoThe Hampden County Hall of Justice in Springfield.

SPRINGFIELD – A Monson man and a Ludlow man both denied child pornography charges in separate cases Thursday in Hampden Superior Court.

Michael Sears, 51, of 85 Highland Ave., Ludlow, pleaded innocent to three counts of possession of child pornography.

Bail was set at $10,000 personal surety by Judge Richard J. Carey.

Kermit Pike, 39, of 321 Stafford Road, Monson, pleaded innocent to two counts of “distributing material of a child in the nude” and three counts of possession of child pornography.

Bail was set at $10,000 personal surety.

Both men were summonsed to court for the arraignment.

Carey set conditions both Sears and Pike must follow.

They cannot have unsupervised contact with children under 18 years old and they cannot work or volunteer with children under 18 years old.

Assistant District Attorney Jane E. Mulqueen asked Carey for the condition that neither man be allowed to use a computer or the Internet.

Carey set that condition for Pike.

Mark H. Bluver, Sears’ lawyer, said Sears needs to use a computer at his job. Mulqueen agreed to the condition that Sears only use a computer in his employment.

"Most people buy $5 or $10 worth. We've had people buying 300, 400, 500 tickets," said Country Trading Post cashier Basia Lewko.

The Republican | Dave RobackBradley and Lisa Willard of Ludlow purchased their lottery tickets for Friday night's Mega Millions drawing at the Trading Post in Chicopee on Friday afternoon.

CHICOPEE – At Country Trading Post in Chicopee, where an electric sign announced extended hours for the purchase of Mega Millions Lottery Jackpot tickets, the Friday lunchtime crowd was reportedly enormous and a postprandial mob continued to file past the cash registers without a break.

At $1 a ticket, few people quit at just one, said cashier Basia Lewko. “Most people buy $5 or $10 worth. We’ve had people buying 300, 400, 500 tickets.”

The size of the jackpot Friday afternoon was $640 million.

Trading Post owner Carl D. Roy said some people represent office pools, but one of his customers bought 500 tickets for himself.

“It’s been a long time since I’ve seen this much activity,” said Roy. “I think this is just craziness.”

Roy said the store had sold about 15,000 Mega Millions tickets in the past week.

“When it goes up high, that’s when I buy a ticket,” said customer Robert Garelli, of Springfield. When asked why, he replied, “I want to know what it is to be a millionaire!”

View full sizeThe Republican | Dave RobackBuffy LaRiviere of Chicopee sold 150 Mega Millions tickets to one customer at the Trading Post.

“We play very rarely,” said Lisa Willard of Ludlow, who had bought 11 lottery tickets, “but when the jackpot’s this big, you might as well take a chance.”

“You just never know,” said her husband, Bradley. Asked how he would spend the money if he won, he said he would spend the first year imagining what to do with it – “and that’s as far as it gets.”

Melanie Boulais, of South Hadley, was refraining from risky behavior. She was about to buy a single ticket, though she had also bought one the day before. “I figure I work too hard for my money,” she said.

“My husband and I were just talking last night about how we would spend the money if we won,” said Boulais. “My daughter is 13, and she said I should give some of it to charity.

“I would pay people’s mortgages,” said Boulais. “I would hide for a while, I would buy a new car because I need one, I would help people who need help.”

Craig Pfister, also of South Hadley, had just gotten off work and was still wearing his employer’s truck driver logo when he stopped at the Trading Post.

“I’ve bought five tickets each at six or seven different places,” said Pfister, who was following instructions from his wife, Sharon. He was planning to stop at “one more place down the road” before he got home.

The Republican | Dave RobackRobert Garelli of Springfield purchased his Mega Millions tickets at the Trading Post.

If he won, said Pfister, all the money would go to his family. He would pay off his debts and would pay for the education of his older son, Brian, 19, who is in college.

Sandra Giverson, of Ludlow, said she would share the loot with “my brothers and sisters.”

“Everyone has a dream,” said Roy. “They’re all in good spirits.”

Had he bought a ticket himself? Of course. He and his wife spent about $20 on tickets, he said.

Two teams from Pathfinder went to the FIRST Tech Challenge State Robotics Championship, where they competed with more than 20 top Massachusetts robotics teams.

The Republican/Lori StabileMembers of the senior robotics team at Pathfinder Regional Vocational Technical High School stand with their robot. The team won the "Innovate Award" for having the robot with the most innovative design at a statewide competition on March 10. From left to right, Jake Moriarty, Matthew Montebello, William Stebbins II, John Messier, Michael Mulhollen, Jason Deyo, Dylan Benavides, Michael Carrigan Jr., Kyle Fish, Ryan McQuaid and electronics and robotics instructor Eric A. Duda.

PALMER — They put their robots to the test, and came home with awards to prove it.

Two teams from Pathfinder Regional Vocational Technical High School went to the FIRST Tech Challenge State Robotics Championship on March 10 at Andover High School, where they competed with more than 20 top robotics teams from around the state.

The theme was “Bowled Over” and the robotics teams had to create robots that could maneuver around a 12-foot square field, fit inside an 18-inch box and could lift plastic ball crates containing racquetballs and move two bowling balls.

They got points for rolling bowling balls up ramps, and had to stack the crates, which were set up like bowling pins.

The first 30 seconds marked the autonomous period with no human control over the robot, followed by the two-minute driver-controlled period. They also couldn’t push the opponents’ robot out of the way, or they would be penalized.

The seniors won the “Rockwell Collins Innovate Award,” for the most creative and innovative robot design. The rookie junior team won the “Think Award,” given to the team that best reflects the journey it took as they experienced the engineering design process. Only six awards were given.

Teamwork was the key to doing well in the competition, the juniors and seniors said.

Members of the junior robotics team at Pathfinder Regional Vocational Technical High School stand next to their robot, which won them the "Think Award" at a March 10 competition in Andover. From left to right, front row: Kyle Lussier, Gustavo Rodriguez, Matthew Roberts and Bernadette Dineen. Center row: Nicholas McDonough and Mackaiden Morini. Back row: Electronics and robotics instructor Eric A. Duda, Adam Portelada, Devyn Jess, Tyler Menard and Rache Yaeger.

“Before we did anything, we always brainstormed before we moved on to the next point,” said senior team vice captain Jake Moriarty, of Monson.

Seniors Matthew Montebello, of Monson, and William Stebbins II, of Warren, worked on the logbook, which included team biographies and details on how the team arrived at its final creation.

While the majority of the senior team is part of the electronics shop, under the direction of electronics-robotics instructor Eric A. Duda, John Messier, of Ware, a computer aided drafting student, also was recruited, marking the first time someone from outside electronics participated on the team. Duda said the plan is to involve students from even more shops on his robotics teams next year.

Also on the senior team were Dylan Benavides and captain Ryan McQuaid, of Ware; Michael Mulhollen, of Three Rivers; Kyle Fish, of Monson; Jason Deyo, of Bondsville; and Michael Carrigan Jr., of Oakham.

McQuaid explained that they watched a video detailing the “bowled over” game, so they would understand how to build the robot. Still, it went through multiple design changes, said McQuaid, adding the team spent many hours after school. Duda said it took probably two months to perfect the design. The robot featured an impressive scissor lift that could raise a crate 80 inches into the air.

McQuaid and Carrigan went to the school’s machine shop to build the scissor lift; calculus was used to figure out the mechanics of it. They worked with a team charter, voted on by all members.

There were a total of five matches at Andover.

The junior team, composed of team captain Kyle Lussier and members Rache Yaeger, and Mackaiden Morini, of Ware; vice captain Matthew Roberts, of Thorndike; Devyn Jess, of Belchertown; Tyler Menard and Adam Portelada, of Ludlow; Nicholas McDonough, of Palmer; Gustavo Rodriguez, of Amherst; and Bernadette Dineen, also had a charter, and each member had specific responsibilities as well. A secret ballot was held to designate the duties.

Dineen, of Monson, was in charge of the logbook. Yaeger and Menard were the computer programmers.

Roberts said the competition brought them all closer together. A poster board they used during the competition stated “Welcome to the Family.”

“It was the best team I had ever seen,” Duda said about the juniors, praising their teamwork.

Lussier said building the entire robot was a challenge, and said the finished product looked much different from what they started with. Lussier said he was especially proud of what they created.

“There was a lot we had to figure out ourselves. It was a team effort,” said Yaeger, adding that he and Menard didn’t know much about programming, and had to look up tutorials online to figure it out.

Duda said he was proud of his teams, and how the competition showed them how much fun science and engineering can be.

“I couldn’t be more pleased with them ... they learned to love math, science and engineering, and if they find an interest in it and maybe go to college for it, what more can you ask for?” Duda said.

Many law enforcement entities helped in the investigation.

SPRINGFIELD – Hampden District Attorney Mark G. Mastroianni said Thursday 13 people have been indicted on child pornography charges.

The 18-month police investigation was partially funded by a grant to the district attorney’s office through the U.S. Department of Justice Child Sexual Predator Program.

Working with Mastroianni’s office in the investigation were the state police, FBI and police officers from Springfield, Chicopee, Agawam, Monson and other local jurisdictions.

Mastroianni said his office “will continue to identify and charge child sexual predators that use the internet to engage in criminal acts involving children.”

The defendants who have already been arraigned in Hampden Superior Court and have denied charges are:

Kermit Pike, 39, of Monson, for two counts of distributing, and three counts of possessing, child child pornography.

Jorge Pagan, 38, of Springfield, for two counts of distributing child pornography, eight counts of possessing child pornography, and one count of videotaping an unsuspecting nude person.

Michael Sears, 51, of Ludlow, for three counts of possessing child pornography.

Daniel Sullivan, 52, of Springfield, for five counts of distribution, and three of possessing child pornography.

Leon Wright, 57, of West Springfield, for one count of distributing, and three counts of possessing, child pornography.

People who have been indicted but not yet arraigned in Hampden Superior Court are:

Cody Bartels, 18, of Palmer, on three counts of possession, and eight counts of distributing, child pornography.

Paul Chartier, 53, of Springfield, on three counts of possessing, and four counts of distributing, child pornography.

Colin Draper, 23, of Monson, on two counts of distributing, and three counts of possessing, child pornography.

Charles Follett, 66, of West Springfield, on two counts of distributing, and three counts of possessing, child pornography.

Thomas Laughlin, 40, of Chicopee, on three counts of possessing, and three counts of distributing, child pornography.

Barry Scott, 55, of Chicopee, on one count of distributing, and three counts of possessing, child pornography.

Luis Sanchez, 42, of Holyoke, on one count of distributing, and three counts of possessing, child pornography.

David Lewis, 55, of Westfield, on two counts of distributing, and two counts of possessing, child pornography.

The proposal would create 7 indoor playing fields and 2 outdoor ones next to Westover Air Reserve Base.

Republican staff photo by Don TreegerDonald Cameron, of Amherst, (right) is hoping to construct an indoor and outdoor soccer facility at 123 First Ave., in Chicopee. In the center is his son Colby, 14, and on the left is Bill Marconi, who will be the general manager of the facility if their permits are granted.

CHICOPEE – A businessman who wants to build a private indoor and outdoor sports arena is hoping to overcome objections from the City Council and officials at Westover Air Reserve Base.

Donald Cameron III, of Amherst, is proposing turning the former Post Office warehouse at 123 First St. into a sports facility with seven indoor fields, a fitness center and a basketball court that would be available for rent. He wants to construct at least two more fields outside.

“All of the communities in Western Massachusetts do not have enough playing fields,” said Cameron, a painting contractor who has coached teams and whose father has a long history as a youth sports volunteer in Ludlow.

But officials at Westover Air Reserve base are objecting to the proposal, saying it is located in the Accident Potential Zone, which is in a runway flight path and has a statistically higher risk of accidents.

“We are very concerned that this proposed land use would be incompatible with aviation operations at Westover ... and that it would present an increased risk to public safety,” Col. Steven D. Vautrain, commander of Westover’s 439th Airlift Wing, said in a letter.

Some low-density uses are acceptable in the zone, but a sports arena has potential to draw large groups and would not be recommended, he said.

After a meeting that included testimony from Westover officials and Cameron, the City Council’s zoning committee voted 7-0 against granting Cameron the special permit he would need.

The full City Council has delayed voting on the permit.

“It is one of the hardest decisions I have had to make. I love soccer,” said City Councilor John L. Vieau, chairman of the zoning committee.

Vieau said that as a parent he understands fields are needed, but also realizes that Westover officials and area lawmakers are struggling to keep jobs at the base in light of proposed Pentagon cutbacks that could reduce the number of planes at Westover from 16 to eight in 2016.

Councilor Timothy S. McLellan said he liked the idea, but said it had to be balanced with the fact that Westover is the city’s largest employer, with 2,333 reservists and 838 civilian workers.

“Westover is our bread and butter,” he said.

Cameron said he wants to divide the about 50,000 square-foot building into six indoor areas that would include four small soccer fields to be used for younger children. The plan also calls for adding an inflatable building to hold three more fields.

With 40 acres surrounding the building, there is room for at least four fields, but he said he would start by making two with artificial turf.

The business would employee at least five people full time and as many as 30 part time. It would pay an estimated $100,000 in annual property taxes, Cameron said.

He recently hired Chicopee lawyer Thomas Murphy to assist him in winning the permits.

“I am looking into some fact-finding. I know Westover is at a delicate point in their negotiations,” Murphy said.

The zones allow recreational uses and have a formula of not allowing more than 25 people an acre. With the complex spread over 40 acres, that would allow 1,000 people at a time, more people than would use the facility, Murphy said.

“There won’t be anyone at night and no one there during school hours,” he said.

Murphy said he hopes to be able to discuss the issue more with Westover officials and the City Council and try to come up with an agreement that would allow the complex to be built safely.

“It would provide a good service and is on the edge of the (zone). There are a lot of reasons I think it is worthy to take another look,” he said.

Final approval of the school budget will be at the May 14 annual Town Meeting.

LUDLOW - A public hearing on the proposed fiscal 2013 School Department budget will be help April 23 at 7 p.m. in the Baird Middle School auditorium.

Interim School Superintendent Donna Hogan said she will present a proposed fiscal 2013 school budget at the public hearing.

“We have been working hard to stay within the town’s parameters,” Hogan told School Committee members.

“We know this year will be a difficult year," School Committee member Michael Kelliher said.

He added that federal stimulus money is gone which leads to the need to make cuts.

“We’ll manage through as we always do,” Kelliher said. “We appreciate all the hard work by our administrative team.”

The school budget will be presented to the Finance Committee on April 25. Final approval of the fiscal 2013 school budget will be by the voters at the May 14 annual Town Meeting.

Hogan said she was instructed by town officials to try and “think outside the box” to live without increases to the school budget.

“What we are looking at is bringing out-of-district special education students back into the district,” Hogan said.

She said she has been “driving around town” looking at space which the school district leases out to see if it could be used for “top notch” special education programs which would be offered within the district.

“These are our children,” Hogan said, adding that they should be educated “at home in Ludlow.”

“We are talking about adding top notch programs,” she added.

Hogan said she hopes that some additional special education programs can be developed by next January, or at the latest, by June of 2013.

Hogan said the school district spends $9 million between transportation costs, utilities and out-of-district tuition placements.

She said those students who need to be placed out of district will continue to be placed out of district, but she added, “We are looking for savings.”

School Committee member Jacob Oliveira said he is sure the cost of out-of-district tuitions is “staggering.”

He thanked Hogan for looking for cost savings.

Work will take about three months to complete.

Republican file photoEasthampton Municipal Building

EASTHAMPTON – As soon as school’s out in June, a Ludlow contractor will begin work in the Everett Street area replacing sewer lines, sidewalks and the road in a long-planned project there.

The city began seeking Community Development Block Grant money in 2009 and received enough for design work, said City Engineer James Gracia.

They city received $895,950 last year in the second phase to begin the project, he said. They city is applying for additional funding to finish the project.

A Pereira Construction Company of Ludlow was awarded the contract and will finish the work in September. He said they wanted to wait until June to begin because Everett Street fairly busy route for bus traffic.

Gracia said the work is long overdue.

The housing there and the infrastructure was built in the 1930s, he said, likely by the West Boylston Company, which initially made felt products but then retooled for the war effort in World War II.

“Everything underground and sidewalks (will be replaced.) They’re tired… it was a good project to rehab.”

The project good for the neighbors and the city, he said. City crews “won’t have to be there every six months or a year. We’ve had to dig things up.

“There’s a lot big trees silver maples, notorious for getting roots into the sewer lines,” he said.

The contractor will be replacing all the mains and service in the Everett Street area. Also the contractor will put in new roads, catch basins, storm drains and sidewalks as well.
While people likely won’t be able to park there during the day, he said they plan to keep one lane of Everett open for through traffic throughout the tree-month project, he said.

Students could use their own smart phones in class for school research projects.

LUDLOW — The School Committee has approved a pilot program to promote technology use in the schools.

School Committee member Jacob Oliveira said the School Department cannot afford a computer for every student.

To help students to be able to make use of the Internet for research, the School Committee approved a policy whereby teachers can submit proposals to their building principals which would allow students to use their own cell phones or wireless devices in class in guided projects. Parents would be asked to sign permission slips for students to participate in the program.

The pilot program has been titled Bring Your Own Device.

According to surveys done by the school district, 41 percent of students in fourth and fifth grades at Veterans Park School have a cell phone. Of those, 57 percent have smart phones that connect to the Internet. A total of 91 percent of students say they have Internet access at home. At Baird Middle School, 82 percent of students have cell phones.

Lorraine Boucher, technology coordinator for the school district, said parents would be asked to give permission for students to use their cell phones either as calculators or to access the Internet in class for research projects under the direction of the teacher.

“We are looking for ways to get technology into the hands of students,” Boucher said.

“We are looking at this as a temporary experiment, not as a permanent policy,” Boucher said. She said that until the district can afford computers for all students, teachers want to be able to teach students to access the world through technology.

“We don’t have the budget, and the kids have the technology,” School Committee member Michael Kelliher said.

The students already have the cell phones in their pockets and backpacks, Boucher said.

Kelliher said the students have the devices in school. Teachers ask them to turn the phones over and put them on the table when they don’t want the students to use the cell phones in class, he said.

Oliveira said there are some students as young as first grade who have cell phones in school. He said there are toddlers who can use iPads and cell phones.

“It is second nature to them,” he said.

Officials said the school district has been pleased with the company's work.

LUDLOW - The School Committee has approved awarding a one-year contract to Management Solution of Auburn to serve as the business manager for the school district.

The vote to award the contract was 5 to 0.

The school district received only one bid for the position.

The School Committee voted to award the contract and then to negotiate the amount of the award.

Management Solution bid about $92,000 for the one-year contract, School Committee member James P. Harrington said.

In addition to Management Solution, Darlene Cincone serves as assistant school business manager.

Cincone is paid $60,000, and she supervises transportation for the school district and building and grounds as well as serving as assistant business manager.

Todd Gazda, who will take over as school superintendent in July, recommended that the School Committee award a one-year contract to Management Solution which has been doing the business manager job for the school district in recent years.

Gazda said the school district has been pleased with the company’s work.

Harrington said that if Gazda wants to change companies or hire a full-time business manager in a year, he can make that recommendation to the School Committee.

“The school district has been happy with Management Solution,” Harrington said.

Sophomores, juniors and seniors were eligible to compete. Instructor Craig Sankey said a total of 92 students were brought to the competition, and 36 of them received medals - the most ever in the school's history of participating in SkillsUSA.

File photo | The RepublicanPathfinder Regional Vocational Technical High School in Palmer.

PALMER — Pathfinder Regional Vocational Technical High School students this year won the most SkillsUSA competition medals in the school’s 19-year history of participating in the program.

Craig Sankey, SkillsUSA advisor and an auto body instructor, said all of the school’s trade areas participated in the west district competition, which was held last month at McCann Technical School in North Adams. Sophomores, juniors and seniors were eligible to compete. Sankey said a total of 92 students were brought to the competition, and 36 of them received medals.

“That was the most we’ve ever taken,” Sankey said.

Now, the 26 gold and silver medalists will go on to the state SkillsUSA event April 26, 27 and 28 at Blackstone Valley Regional Vocational Technical High School in Upton. There, the students will compete for scholarships, tools and equipment. This time, the competition will be hands-on, and the students can showcase their skills, be it in the culinary arts, automotive or carpentry, just to name a few.

“It’s work day, a chance to show their skills,” Sankey said. “I’m really excited. I think we have a really good chance at placing well”

Sankey explained that during the district competition, the students competed against seven other schools. The students took two written tests, one on their trade and the other about employability and job etiquette. A 25-question test on OSHA rules was used as tie-breaker.

“The thing that really thrilled me, every shop that participated had a medalist,” Sankey said.

Those who place first in the state competition will go on to the national competition in June in Kansas City, Mo. Last year, Sankey said Jeff Nelson, of Oakham, a heating, ventilation and air conditioning (HVAC) student, won a gold medal at the nationals. Nelson, who graduated last year, now is a candidate for the world competition in Germany in 2013, Sankey said.

The following students received gold medals: Mike Berthiaume of Warren in industrial motor control, Kylie Brewer of Oakham in basic health care, Kyle Fish of Monson in robotics and automation, Aric Gaumond of Warren in CNC milling, Darrick Kustra of Palmer in HVAC, Colin Lynch of Monson in automotive, Alexis Malouin of Palmer in medical terminology, David Rouisse of Warren in collision repair, Ross Sbriscia of Monson in computer programming, Nicole Simulynas of North Brookfield in nail care, William Stebbins of Warren in robotics and automation, and Rache Yaeger of Ware in electronics.

Silver medals went to Mitchell Benedetti of Palmer in technical computer, Shawn Bresnahan of Belchertown in HVAC, Patrick Burbee of Palmer in web design, Jacob Carman of Monson in computer programming, Katherine Cyr of Warren in cosmetology, Corina Dembowski of Warren in medical terminology, Cory Gold of Belchertown in culinary arts, Breann Grenier of Ware in basic health care, Ryan Lavigne of Ludlow in web design, Michael Mastriani of Palmer in automotive, Brittany McLeod of Ware in web design, Jason Morin of Warren in CNC milling, McColl Rhodes of Monson in automotive refinishing, Gustavo Rodrigues of Amherst in electronics, and Jocelyn Simmons of Palmer in architectural drafting.

Receiving bronze medals were Matt Choquette of Warren in technical computer, Tom Cote of Warren in industrial motor control, Jamie Deland of Monson in basic health care, Brenda Klusman of Monson in medical terminology, Ryan Krasnecky of Ware in cabinet making, Ethan Mercier of Ludlow in CNC milling, Steve Owczarski of Belchertown in HVAC, Mary Smith of Monson in commercial baking, Ley Vuong of Palmer in office computer and Joseph Wyngowski of Belchertown in automotive refinishing.

There were no injuries in the fire, which was reported around 10:55 a.m.

The Republican | Don Treeger04.17.2012 | LUDLOW - Firefighters mop up at the scene of a house fire at 805 Chapin St.

LUDLOW - The office of the State Fire Marshal is investigating the cause of a Tuesday morning fire at a home on Chapin Street.

Fire chief Mark H. Babineau said the owner of the home at 805 Chapin St. reported the fire around 10:55 a.m. Tuesday.

The fire broke out in the basement, where it caused extensive damage. The fire caused heat and smoke damage to the home's first floor.

There were no injuries.

The home is owned by William R. and Maria Falconer and was most recently assessed at $175,800, according to the town's board of assessors.

No injuries were reported in the blaze at 805 Chapin St.

The Republican | Don Treeger04.17.2012 | LUDLOW - Firefighters mop up at the scene of a house fire at 805 Chapin St.

LUDLOW - A faulty electrical system was the cause of a blaze that heavily damaged the basement of a Chapin Street home Tuesday morning.

Fire chief Mark H. Babineau said the owner of the home at 805 Chapin St. reported the fire around 10:55 a.m. . No injuries were reported.

The fire also caused heat and smoke damage to the home’s first floor and it is not currently habitable. State Trooper David Percy, worked with the department to determine the cause of the blaze.

The home is owned by William R. and Maria Falconer and was most recently assessed at $175,800, according to the town’s board of assessors.

Nearly 200 tons of old, outdated prescription drugs were collected during a November drive.

File photo by David Molnar / The RepublicanSpringfield Police and the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration collect prescription medications at the third annual "Take Back" initiative at Central High School last fall. Here, Mickey Paul of Springfield, left, brings in her family's medications ang gives them to DEA Intellegence Analyst Jennifer Fafard.

Building on past successes, the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration will launch the fourth National Prescription Drug Take-Back event on April 28.

The annual event serves to mitigate epidemic prescription drug abuse nationally and provides an outlet for those who may not know the best way to dispose of old and unused drugs.

In the past, the events have raked in countless tons of medications, including 188.5 tons during the most recent national take-back drive which was conducted last fall.

“With the continued support and hard work of our more than 3,945 state, local, and tribal law enforcement and community partners, these three events have dramatically reduced the risk of prescription drug diversion and abuse, and increased awareness of this critical public health issue,” said DEA administrator Michele M. Leonhart.

The drive also will include take-back sites across Western Massachusetts, including at the Springfield Central High School, city halls in Agawam and West Springfield, the Westfield Police Department headquarters, the parking lot of Greenfield High School and other sites, a list of which is available online at the DEA website, http://www.deadiversion.usdoj.gov/drug_disposal/takeback/index.html

The collections will be conducted from 10 a.m. until 2 p.m.

The process is as simple as bringing old, unwanted or expired drugs to the designated sites and dropping them off.

Selectman William Rooney said representatives from the Hampden County District Attorney’s office and the Ludlow Police Department will discuss the regional outlook for fighting illegal drug use.

LUDLOW - Selectman William Rooney urged residents to attend a community forum planned for Tuesday at 6:30 p.m. at Ludlow High School to get the community to begin to combat the problem of teen drinking and illegal drug use.

“This is for parents and students in grades 5 and up,” Rooney said. He added that there will be professional free child care on site for those who need it provided by the Ludlow Community Center.

Rooney said representatives from the Hampden County District Attorney’s office and the Ludlow Police Department will discuss the regional outlook for fighting illegal drug use.

Presentations will be made by some recovering drug addicts and by families of drug addicts.

Rooney says the community has a drug problem and it needs to start talking about it.

Parents at a school forum in February said there is a problem with abuse of the prescription drug Oxycontin in the community. There are homes in town where Oxycontin is being sold to teens.

Oxycontin can lead to addiction and increased house and car breaks, Rooney said.

Selectman Carmina Fernandes said it is important for students, parents and grandparents to attend the Tuesday forum.

“We need to nip this in the bud,” Fernandes said.

She said the issue cuts across the entire town.

Increased drug use can lead to increased crime.

Increased crime can result in the need for more police and higher property taxes, Fernandes said.

Increased crime also can result in a reduction in property values, Fernandes said.

Police in Ludlow look for robbery suspects.

LUDLOW - Police are looking for two men involved in a robbery at the Cumberland Farms on West Street Saturday night.

Police said that two black men armed with handguns and masks demanded money from the clerk and then ran away on foot with less than $40 in cash.

Police said a K9 from the Wilbraham Police Department tried to track the suspects. Officers from the Springfield and Chicopee police departments also assisted.

Police are investigating the robbery. Anyone with information should call the Ludlow Detective Bureau at (413) 583-8305.

The work on the second roundabout is slated to take six weeks.

Photo by Diane Lederman / The RepublicanThis is the site of the second roundabout at Bay Road and Route 116 in Amherst that will be constructed this summer.

AMHERST – Motorists will be able to test out the first new roundabout across from Atkins Market just after Memorial Day when a detour is put in place to allow for contractors to put in the second roundabout on Route 116 near Bay Road.

Contractors wanted to wait until after college students left before beginning the work on the second roundabout so there would be less traffic, Public Works Superintendent Guilford B. Mooring said.

The second roundabout will be put in north of Bay Road heading from Atkins to Hampshire College.

Bay Road has to be built up to enable to the roundabout to be built and detours through Hadley and Amherst will be put in place.

Sara Lavoieâ¨, press secretary for the state Department of Transportation, said work is expected to last about six weeks depending on the weather. “The roundabouts will be operational by fall,” she said in an email.

The details of the detours as well as traffic mitigation are still being worked out, she said. But to avoid the work area, motorists will have to use South East Street, Pomeroy and West Pomeroy lanes on the Amherst side and Moody Bridge Road and South Maple Street on the Hadley side. Atkins will remain open, officials said.

Work on the project, which took more than a decade of planning, began in March of 2011. Lavoie said the project completion date is July 12, 2013 and is on schedule to finish by then.

The redesign is intended to improve safety and traffic flow with the roundabouts at Route 116 and West Bay Road, and at Route 116 and Bay Road. The road will be slightly wider. The design also includes a multi-use bicycle lane.

Ludlow-based Baltazar Contractors were awarded the contract for the $6 million project in January of 2011.