About $8.5 million went directly to locally hired cast and crew members, according to the Motion Picture Association of America.

BOSTON — "Black Mass," the Whitey Bulger biopic, pumped almost $20 million into Massachusetts' economy, including more than $8.5 million that went to hundreds of local cast and crew members hired for the film, according to the Motion Picture Association of America.

The Warner Bros. movie about Bulger, the notorious leader of Boston's Irish mob, made its U.S. premiere Tuesday evening at Coolidge Corner Theatre in Brookline, where local streets near the Harvard Street venue were closed as Johnny Depp and fellow cast members received the red carpet treatment.

"These latest figures make clear what many local workers and businesses already know – the production of 'Black Mass' was a driver for economic activity every day it spent in Massachusetts, and its impact will continue to ripple through and lift local communities," Chris Dodd, the former Connecticut senator who's now chairman and CEO of the Motion Picture Association of America, said in a statement.

"We're grateful for this opportunity to once again shine a light on how the film and TV industry supports jobs and economic growth, especially as audiences prepare to see what promises to be a thrilling and entertaining movie," Dodd said.

The production of the film also provided a major lift for local businesses and vendors, according to MPAA officials. In particular, the production spent more than $820,000 on car rentals, nearly $560,000 on wardrobe purchases, over $453,000 on food and catering, and some $2.7 million on location fees.

Chris O'Donnell, business manager of Local 481 of the International Alliance of Theatrical Stage Employees, said "Black Mass" directly benefited hundreds of local workers by providing well-paying jobs with benefits.

"As this movie hits theaters, it's important to remember how this production and the entire statewide film industry make it possible for thousands of Massachusetts residents to earn their livelihoods and support their families," O'Donnell said.

The movie was shot in and around Boston, including scenes filmed in South Boston, East Boston, Cambridge, Revere, Quincy and Lynn, among other locales familiar with readers of MassLive. "Black Mass," which is already generating an Oscar buzz for Depp, hits local theaters this Friday, Sept. 18.

"Black Mass" by the numbers (All data provided by MPAA):

• Spent over $19.67 million in Massachusetts;
• hired 662 local cast and crew members, who collectively were paid over $8.5 million;
• spent $823,000 on local car rentals;
• spent $557,000 on local wardrobe purchases;
• spent $453,000 on catering, bakery goods and other food items;
• and spent $2.7 million on location fees.

 

CEO Mark Zuckerberg said the company has veered away from making a "dislike" button, which could be used to vote down other people's posts.

Facebook may finally be getting a button that lets you quickly express something
beyond a "like."

Mark Zuckerberg 

Speaking at an event at Facebook's Menlo Park, California, headquarters that was streamed live online, Zuckerberg acknowledged that "like" isn't always appropriate for some posts -- about a tragic news event, for example -- when people might want to express empathy.

Zuckerberg said the company, however, has veered away from making a "dislike" button, which could be used to vote down other people's posts. He said the new button is ready to be tested soon and could be rolled out broadly depending on how it does.

Egyptian forces hunting militants in the country's western desert mistakenly opened fire on several vehicles used by Mexican tourists, killing 12 people on Sunday.

By MARK STEVENSON

MEXICO CITY -- Mexico's Foreign Relations Department said Tuesday that embassy personnel in Egypt have identified six more bodies as those of Mexican citizens killed in air attack by Egyptian police and military forces.

The deaths of two Mexicans had earlier been confirmed, bringing the total number of Mexicans killed to eight.

Six other Mexicans were wounded in the attack. The department said Tuesday their condition is stable. There were 14 or 15 Mexicans who were traveling on a desert oasis tour at the time.

Egyptian President Abdel-Fattah al-Sissi on Tuesday called Mexican President Enrique Pena Nieto to offer his condolences and reiterate that Egypt will provide all necessary medical assistance for the injured, presidency spokesman Alaa Youssef said in a statement in Cairo.

Egyptian forces hunting militants in the country's western desert mistakenly opened fire on several vehicles used by Mexican tourists, killing 12 people on Sunday.

The other dead are believed to be Egyptians.

Egyptian Foreign Minister Sameh Shukri said Tuesday evening the government is investigating "the precise details of this tragedy," adding that "the chain of events is still confusing and unclear."

"We still do not know if the convoy was simply in the wrong place at the wrong time, or if some error was involved," Shukri said. Egyptian officials initially said on Monday the tourists did not have permission to be in the area.

He didn't mention any new information on the death toll or casualties from the incident.

Mexico's Foreign Relations Secretary Claudia Ruiz Massieu called the aerial attack "an unjustified aggression."

The sister of one of the Mexican tourists killed said her brother, Luis Barajas Fernandez, 49, had been visiting Egypt for the first time.

"He had never gone to Egypt before," said Ana Barajas, who lives in the northern Mexico state of Tamaulipas. "It was for pleasure," she said of the trip.

The married 49-year-old had worked as a salesman in hospital and medical supplies.

"It is an unparalleled hurt," she said of his death, adding the Mexican government was going to take care of the response to her brother's death, and the repatriation of his remains.

Two other Mexican dead have been identified by name as Maria de Lourdes Fernandez Rubio and Rafael Bejarano.

The incident, among the deadliest involving tourists in Egypt, comes as the country is trying to revive its vital tourism industry after the turmoil following the 2011 uprising that toppled President Hosni Mubarak.

Egypt has mainly been battling insurgents in the northern Sinai Peninsula, on the other side of the country, where Islamic militants stepped up attacks on security forces after the military ousted Islamist President Mohammed Morsi in 2013 amid massive protests against his rule.

But in recent months, militants loyal to the Islamic State group have carried out a series of attacks in more central parts of the country, including the bombing of the Italian Consulate in Cairo and the kidnapping and beheading of a Croatian oil surveyor who was working in the capital.

Egyptian officials initially claimed the safari convoy had wandered into a restricted area. The tour company involved "did not have permits and did not inform authorities," Rasha Azazi, a spokeswoman for the Egyptian Ministry of Tourism, earlier told The Associated Press, adding that any trips to that area must be cleared by officials. "They were not supposed to be there," she said, without providing further information about the incident.

Egypt's western desert has long been a popular safari destination, with tourists flocking to its verdant oases, unique rock formations and white sand dunes.

In recent years, however, it has been the subject of security concerns because of the long, porous border with Libya. Egypt has been flooded with weapons, mostly from Libya, since the 2011 uprising that toppled longtime Libyan dictator Moammar Gadhafi and plunged that country into turmoil.

Egyptian security forces frequently target smugglers in the western desert, and in July 2014, gunmen armed with rocket-propelled grenades attacked a border guard post, killing 21 troops.

Which trailer for the film do you like the best? Chime in below in the comments section of MassLive.

This is a 'review of previews' of the film "Black Mass."

That's probably because Boston is a gritty, authentic town, and this movie manages to capture the HUB and its environs in all their ragged glory. An anachronism-free film that will delight audiences conversant in Bostonese, the city and surrounding region look great in the movie, which proved to be a boon for the state's economy, generating nearly $20 million.

Depp plays Irish-American gangster Whitey Bulger with such a ferocity, it's hard to imagine that the old man captured in sunny Santa Monica in June 2011 is the same sociopath who oversaw Boston's underworld for much of his adult life.

Now that Bulger has been immortalized in a Hollywood movie featuring seasoned A-listers and a slew of rising stars, the former scrappy kid from the projects of Southie is a shoo-in for the Gangster Hall of Fame.

Below are three trailers from "Black Mass." Which one do you like best? Chime in below in the comments section, if you're so inclined.

My vote: Clip No. 1 – the "steak" scene, which builds with the intensity of the screeching El train in the McCluskey and Sollozzo assassination scene in "The Godfather."

Clip No. 1:

Clip No. 2:

Clip No. 3:

And lastly ... the McCluskey and Sollozzo assassination scene in "The Godfather," a classic scene for sure:

The planned appreciation day comes with some police feeling under siege and many black people outraged about police behavior.

HOLYOKE -- Send a card, give a friendly wave or simply say "thank you" to mark Law Enforcement Appreciation Day Saturday (Sept. 19), a retired city police officer said.

"Officers are tasked to see and hear things that the public would never want to see or know and are required and expected to not repeat or have it affect them," said Michael J. Higgins, who retired as a lieutenant in July 2013 after 35 years with the Holyoke Police Department.

"When someone doesn't know what to do or where to turn, they call for help and law enforcement will arrive to help you," he said Monday.

"Send a card or call your local chief's office or state police barracks and say thank you for their service. If you pass a law enforcement officer just say 'thank you' or wave at them in their cruiser letting them know you know what they do every day," he said.

The planned appreciation follows a similar one held in January. As at that time, the event comes with police nationwide feeling under siege and many black people experiencing outrage. Two New York City police officers were shot to death while in their parked cruiser on Dec. 20 in what an official said was an assassination. A day later an officer of the Tarpon Springs (Florida) Police Department was killed by gunshot responding to a call.

The violence followed anti-police demonstrations that occurred within "black and brown lives matter" marches. The marches have been held to highlight the deaths of black men at the hands of white police officers, such as in Missouri and New York City, and subsequent grand jury decisions against indicting the officers responsible.

Such a march held here on Dec. 12 drew more than 100 people down High Street. Police union officials later criticized it as an anti-police demonstration. But participants said the anti-police chants were less persistent than others like "This is what democracy looks like."

Higgins also is Western Massachusetts representative for New England Concerns of Police Survivors, a nonprofit that helps the survivors of law enforcement officers killed in the line of duty.

Higgins said police officers rush to emergencies such as diving into a river to save a child or freeing a car-crash victim.

"They do this without care of that person's race, religion, where they live and yes even to the person who hates them because they wear a uniform. These officers and troopers have no agenda other than to serve and assist someone in need," Higgins said.

Colaccino said he cannot yet say which retailers will locate in the plaza, but he hopes to make an announcement soon.

LUDLOW - The one-time site of a Mobil gas station on Center Street here near busy Exit 7 on the Massachusetts Turnpike is being redeveloped into a retail plaza, said Frank Colaccino, principal of Colvest Group, developer of the project.

Colaccino said he cannot yet say which retailers will locate in the plaza, but he hopes to make an announcement soon.

The plaza will total 10,000 to 12,000 square feet. That could be divided up into as many as four or five storefronts. There could be fewer if the occupants want more space.

Colaccino said demand for retail space is growing with an improving economy.

"It seems that retailers are out looking for locations," he said. "It seems there has been pent-up demand."

The intersection already has a Pride gas station, a Dunkin' Donuts  and a McDonald's.

"During the evidentiary hearing, Hampshire Council stated that it could not guarantee taxpayer savings or customer savings as a benefit of municipal aggregation, nor could it guarantee that buying in bulk is cheaper. This is in clear conflict with representations provided in written materials."

NORTHAMPTON - In a stinging rebuke, the state has issued an order rejecting the Hampshire Council of Governments' long-sought effort to form a multi-community electricity purchasing cooperative.

The DPU approval was required for the energy cooperative to eventually operate.

The DPU said the HCOG not only failed to provide transparent information to the 35 communities involved, but misrepresented aspects of the proposed energy program, provided untrue information and tried to market it as a green energy initiative without being able to substantiate that.

A major purpose of the cooperative arrangement was electricity savings, but the state said there was no guarantee that would happen.

The decision said: "During the evidentiary hearing, Hampshire Council stated that it could not guarantee taxpayer savings or customer savings as a benefit of municipal aggregation, nor could it guarantee that buying in bulk is cheaper. This is in clear conflict with representations provided in written materials."

The state's Sept. 11 order rejects requests by the city of Northampton and the 34 towns to join an electricity "aggregate" as it is termed by HCOG.

The 35 communities have 20 days to appeal the Sept. 11 DPU order to the Supreme Judicial Court of Massachusetts.

In an interview on Monday, William Barnett, an HCOG councilor who has been chairman of the organization's executive committee, was asked about the DPU decision.

"We are going to meet, and discuss, and satisfy the Department of Public Utilities objections," Barnett said. "I am looking upon it as a bump in the road."

Barnett, a Belchertown selectmen, had failed in a 2-1 vote in September 2014 to keep his town in the partnership.

At the time Barnett had argued that the plan would save residents money, while opponents, including Belchertown Town Administrator Gary Brougham, said they were misled, the Hampshire Council idea was incomplete, and that administrative paperwork had become burdensome.

The order bars the 35 communities from becoming an energy cooperative, based on the information they and the HCOG provided the DPU during hearings begun last year after they petitioned in March 2014 for state approval of their plans.

"Each Municipality has retained Hampshire Council of Governments - 'Hampshire Council' or 'HCOG' - to serve as its agent and consultant to assist in the design, implementation, and administration of each Plan and Program," the state order says.

And, according to the order, the problematic information and direction provided by the HCOG - as "agent and consultant" on behalf of the communities appeared to result in disseminating false information to citizens.

Halfway through the 39-page decision, the DPU states that its "review shows numerous misrepresentations by Hampshire Council to the Municipalities and their citizens regarding the process of municipal aggregation, the status of each Plan, and the various details regarding the implementation and contractual obligations of each Municipality upon approval of and execution of each Plan."

It says: "Given the records in these proceedings, and despite multiple requests and opportunities to provide these assurances, the Department has no evidence of sufficient opportunity for citizen review. Therefore, the Department finds that the Plans were not made available for citizen review."

The DPU order also says: "Throughout the course of these proceedings, there have been several instances where conflicting information has been offered regarding whether the Municipalities' Plans include energy efficiency, renewable energy, and green power products. Specifically, Hampshire Council submitted a letter on March 12, 2014 to each Municipality regarding its municipal aggregation program featuring energy efficiency, renewable energy, and optional green power products. In response to discovery and during the evidentiary hearing, the Municipalities' witness stated that these products are not being offered within the scope of their Plans."

The order says the Hampshire Council of Governments responded that the language in the letter was a regrettable "clumsy attempt" to describe the potential "to seek green electricity in the private supply market."

The DPU decision then says: "Hampshire Council stated that it did not have firm plans to offer voluntary green power options. As of the date of this Order, Hampshire Council's website states that Municipalities participating in its aggregation program will be offered an optional green energy program."

The order says: "Given this continual disconnect between the representations made to the Department during the course of the proceedings, and the representations made to the public through educational materials and media offerings, the Department finds that the Plans and materials offered in support of the Plans do not accurately reflect the Municipalities' actual product offerings to program participants."

The order said the DPU "has continuing concerns regarding the education materials that Hampshire Council has disseminated regarding the Programs and upon review finds that several of the education, marketing, and briefing materials regarding the Plans contain inaccurate statements."

In addition to Northampton, the other towns whose petitioned were denied by the order are: Barre, Brookfield, Charlemont, East Brookfield, Goshen, Granby, Great Barrington, Heath, Mendon, New Braintree, North Brookfield, Rowe, Upton, Warwick, Wendell, West Brookfield, Williamsburg, Hampden, Chesterfield, Conway, Cummington, Deerfield, Gill, Hadley, Hatfield, Huntington, Leverett, Middlefield, Montague, Northfield, Pelham, Plainfield, Westhampton and Whately.

Angela M. O'Connor, the DPU Chairman, issued the decision.

Department of Public Utilities Order on WMass Electricity Buying Cooperative

The board of the Massachusetts Department of Elementary and Secondary Education is scheduled to vote in November on whether to replace the Massachusetts Comprehensive Assessment System test with the PARCC test.

SPRINGFIELD — State adoption of the PARCC test to replace the MCAS exam is in the best interests of students, teachers, institutions of higher learning and the workplace, officials of the Massachusetts Business Alliance for Education said Wednesday.

During a meeting with members of the editorial board of The Republican and www.MassLive, Linda Noonan, president of the alliance, who was accompanied by a group of reform advocates, said the MCAS test is outdated and doesn't measure a students' critical thinking and problem solving skills that are necessary to succeed in college and the workplace.

The board of the Massachusetts Department of Elementary and Secondary Education is scheduled to vote in November on whether to replace the Massachusetts Comprehensive Assessment System test with the Partnership for the Assessment of Readiness for College and Career test.

If the board adopts the standards, the switch from MCAS to PARCC would most likely begin in 2019-20 school year.

Opponents of the PARCC test are gathering signatures for a proposed 2016 ballot measure that would oppose the adoption of the new test.

Students who pass the MCAS test, developed in the 1990s in the wake of the Massachusetts Education Reform Act, often feel "betrayed" when they get to college and find out they must take remedial non-credit courses before they can actually begin the post-secondary education, according to Lyndsay Sobel, executive director of Teach Plus, a organization empowering teachers to take leadership positions on policy issues.

"They thought they'd be fine," when they got to college, Sobel said. "But they weren't."

"It's an honesty issue," Sobel said. "We owe it to them to provide them what they need to succeed."

Linda Prystupa, chairman of the education department at Springfield Technical Community College, agreed saying replacing the MCAS with the PARCC test would mean that more students would avoid taking courses that don't add up to credits toward graduation.

Many of the students who must take remedial courses when they get to STCC wind up discouraged and drop out, she said.

Noonan said the PARCC, which harnesses technology, assesses those broader range of skills needed in a global economy.

She said adoption of the PARCC test would push school districts to get up to speed on today's technology. Although the PARCC can be taken with pencil and paper, it is mostly taken on a computer.

Noonan and Sobel said adoption of the PARCC would also free up teachers from "teaching to the test," a longtime criticism of the MCAS test that puts more emphasis on rote memorization and forces teachers to spend much of the day preparing students for the exam.

"Test prep should be just good teaching," Sobel said.

Noonan said the Massachusetts schools that volunteered to try out the PARCC year gave the test high marks.

Sobel said her group found that 72 percent of the 350 teachers Teach Plus surveyed after comparing the two tests came away saying the PARCC was better than the MCAS.

MCAS vs PARCC

Fran O'Connell is a business owner competing against Holyoke Mayor Alex Morse and City Councilor Anthony Soto in Tuesday's preliminary election.

HOLYOKE -- Fran O'Connell Wednesday (Sept. 16) discussed what his management style would be if elected mayor, saying he would have advisers but he would be "very involved and engaged" running the city.

O'Connell, a business owner, was asked to elaborate after having said he would forego the job's $85,000 yearly salary and try to use the money instead to add to the pay of a strong assistant to handle day-to-day duties of the office.

Here is O'Connell's statement, according to public relations firm Market Mentors of West Springfield:

"It has always been my management style to surround myself with smart, educated and competent people. Any leader whether in business or politics would do the same - they all have advisers. With that said, do not misinterpret my statement about the importance of advisers. They are part of the strategic process, but I want to make it clear that the responsibility and accountability of decisions would be mine as mayor of Holyoke. I will be very involved and engaged with the management of the city. On a daily basis, I will lead the office with a strategic vision and a commitment to transparency the people of Holyoke deserve. In order to do that, I will need to set a tone and guide a team. It's a big job, and we need to bring on good people to build positive momentum."

O'Connell, who founded O'Connell Care at Home in 1987, is running against Mayor Alex B. Morse, who is seeking a third term, and Anthony Soto, the Ward 2 representative on the City Council, in the preliminary election Tuesday. Only the top two finishers in that contest will survive to compete on Election Day Nov. 3.

O'Connell had made remarks about what his management as mayor would look like on a few occasions. One was in an interview with The Republican and MassLive.com May 1 at the Whole Donut at 187 South St.

The other occurred according to Angela Gerhard of Holyoke, a former campaign staffer for O'Connell. She said in an Aug. 12 interview that in strategy sessions with campaign advisers O'Connell discussed putting his business talents to use by spending most of the time if elected mayor running the Department of Planning and Economic Development and giving most or part of his salary to an adviser to do daily mayoral duties.

O'Connell has refused to address comments attributed to him by Gerhard, whom he has said is a disgruntled former employee. The most prominent of such comments were Gerhard relating that O'Connell said, in a June 23 meeting Gerhard attended with O'Connnell and two male advisers at Max's Tavern in Springfield, that he was unable to focus on what a certain female city employee says because of the size of her breasts.

Gerhard, a metal smith and enamel jewelry artist and teacher, said she went to work for O'Connell as a researcher because she believes Morse is a poor mayor and should be replaced. She was employed by the O'Connell campaign from June 23 to July 27 at $300 a week for 15 to 20 hours a week, she said.

Gerhard was informed by email July 27 she was ousted from the O'Connell campaign. The reason given was that policy and research would be done by a professional organization, she said.

O'Connell also declined to address the comments attributed to him by Gerhard about how he would manage as mayor in a Sept. 11 radio debate with Morse and Soto.

"The citizens of Holyoke will be electing a mayor that will be held responsible and accountable for leading the city in a new direction," O'Connell said Wednesday. "As mayor, I will have a team of advisers that will help guide the decision making process, but I will set the tone and lead the team as the ultimate decision maker."

O'Connell said he has been discussing how he plans to manage as mayor with voters as he campaigns.

"These conversations include the importance of tapping local experts in the matters of education, economic development, public safety and the management of our city's government. Most importantly, however, the citizens are frustrated with the lack of leadership by the current administration. They have my word that I will be responsible and accountable for leading Holyoke in a new direction," he said.

CYO registrations will be held for boys, girls and co-educational teams in grades kindergarten to eight.

HOLYOKE -- The Our Lady of Guadalupe Catholic Youth Organization basketball program will hold registrations Sept. 26 and Oct. 3 from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m,. at Sacred Heart gymnasium, 340 Chestnut St.

Registrations for the Catholic Youth Organization (CYO) games will be for boys, girls and co-educational teams in grades kindergarten to eight, a press release said Wednesday (Sept. 16).

The price is $65 for the first child; $45 for the second: $15 for the third and $125 per family. For more information, call (413) 275-6075 or email helloh@aol.com.

CYO programs have been offering young people access to sports for decades here and in cities like Manchester, N.H., Chicago, Illinois, Cleveland, Ohio, San Antonio, Texas, Indianapolis, Indiana and Oakland, California. Online sources attribute the founding of CYO programs to Bishop Bernard J. Sheil of Chicago in 1930.

The Dow Jones industrial average rose 140 points to close just below 16,740.

By KEN SWEET

NEW YORK -- Stocks posted solid gains Wednesday ahead of a closely watched decision by the Federal Reserve on whether or not to raise interest rates.

Beer companies gained on word of a possible deal between two giant brewers, and energy stocks rose sharply following a big jump in the price of oil.

The Dow Jones industrial average rose 140.10 points, or 0.8 percent, to 16,739.95. The Standard & Poor's 500 index rose 17.22 points, or 0.9 percent, to 1,995.31 and the Nasdaq composite added 28.72 points, or 0.6 percent, to 4,889.24.

Investors have been speculating about when the Federal Reserve will raise interest rates for months. The Fed started its two-day policy meeting Wednesday and will announce its decision Thursday afternoon, which will be followed by a press conference by Fed Chair Janet Yellen.

Interest rates have been near zero since 2008, when the Fed cut rates sharply in response to the financial crisis and Great Recession. The Fed's low interest rate policy was designed to encourage lending, but it also helped drive a seven-year bull market in stocks by making bonds, CDs and other interest-bearing investments less attractive, driving investors to put money into the stock market.

"If they raise tomorrow, it's going to be nasty for the stock market. Much of the rally back has had much to do with investors believing the Fed isn't going to move," said Tom di Galoma, head of fixed income rates trading at ED&F Man Capital.

Investors' opinions are mixed on the chance of a rate increase. Two months ago, it seemed almost certain that the Fed was going to raise rates in September. Now, after the turmoil in financial markets in August over concerns about China's economy, investors are far less certain.

"I just don't think the economy is strong enough and inflation remains too low to justify a rate increase," di Galoma said.

Stocks have been rising steadily ahead of the Fed's meeting. Investors have said that stocks recovered partly because the chances of an interest rate hike diminished.

In company news, SABMiller, a major beer maker whose brands include Miller and Foster's, jumped 20 percent in London after the company said it received a takeover offer from Anheuser-Busch InBev of Belgium. A combination of the two would create a massive conglomerate worth $275 billion. Any potential deal would be heavily scrutinized by regulators.

U.S.-traded shares of AB InBev rose $7.39, or 7 percent, to $115.43. Other beer makers also rose. Molson Coors jumped $10.34, or 14 percent, to $82.98.

Energy stocks also rose after a steeper-than-expected drop in crude inventories sent oil prices sharply higher.

U.S. benchmark crude jumped $2.56, or 5.7 percent, to $47.15 a barrel on the New York Mercantile Exchange. Brent crude, a benchmark for many international types of oil imported into the U.S., gained $2, or 4.2 percent, to $49.75 a barrel in London.

The Energy Information Administration said U.S. oil supplies fell last week by a steeper-than-expected 2.2 million barrels. Analysts surveyed by Platts expected a decline of 200,000 barrels. The plunge follows news that oil drillers in the U.S. are cutting production in the face of low oil prices.

Oil company stocks followed crude oil higher. The energy sector of the S&P 500 shot up up 2.8 percent, more than twice as much as the rest of the market.

U.S. government bond prices were little changed from Tuesday. The yield on the 10-year Treasury note held at 2.30 percent.

The dollar was little changed at 120.61 yen and the euro edged up to $1.1285.

Gold rose $16.40 to $1,119 an ounce. Silver gained 56 cents to $14.89 an ounce and copper climbed 2.6 cents to $2.45 a pound.

In other energy futures trading:

1. Wholesale gasoline rose 4.9 cents to $1.382 a gallon
2. Heating oil rose 4.1 cents to $1.541 a gallon
3. Natural gas slipped 6.8 cents to $2.66 per 1,000 cubic feet.

The three candidates for Holyoke mayor combined spent more than $119,000.

Updated at 9:25 a.m. Thursday, September 17, 2015 to clarify the headline and first sentence: Holyoke Mayor Alex Morse raised more money from individual donors than mayoral candidates Fran O'Connell and Anthony Soto. While O'Connell took in more money than Morse and Soto in the filing period, most of it, $77,500, was provided to his campaign by himself.

HOLYOKE -- Business owner Fran O'Connell took in the most money of the three candidates for mayor in the most recent filing period with $87,535, including $77,500 he gave himself.

Mayor Alex B. Morse raised $75,035 and City Councilor Anthony Soto $11,895.

O'Connell, Morse and Soto are competing in the preliminary election Tuesday, with the top two finishers moving forward to square off on Election Day Nov. 3. The candidate who finishes third is out of the race.

The candidates filed the reports (see below) with the state Office of Campaign and Political Finance. Morse and Soto filed for the period of Jan. 1 to Sept. 4, O'Connell for May 1 to Sept. 14, reports show.

The three candidates combined spent $119,234 in the recent filing period, reports show.

O'Connell, who founded O'Connell Care at Home here in 1987, began the filing period with a zero-balance campaign fund. Under receipts, the report shows he gave his campaign $7,500 on May 15, $10,000 on June 16, $30,000 on June 20 and $30,000 on Sept. 14.

O'Connell also received $10,035 in donations from individuals, a labor union and campaign committees of candidates in other races.

Prominent contributors to O'Connell included Michelle Abdow of Longmeadow, an owner of Market Mentors public relations firm of West Springfield, $250; John Aubin of Holyoke, Open Square owner, $500; Committee To Elect Jennifer Chateauneuf, for Holyoke Councilor at Large Jennifer E. Chateauneuf, $50; and former Holyoke Mayor Elaine A. Pluta, $50, the report shows.

O'Connell spent $58,551 in the recent filing period and had a remaining balance of $28,983, the report shows.

O'Connell and Morse devoted significant expense to consultants. O'Connell paid Market Mentors $36,102 and DAPA Research of Lynnfield $15,000.

Morse, who began his first term is mayor in January 2012, began the recent filing period with a campaign fund balance of $12,083.

In the recent filing period, Morse received hundreds of donations from individuals ranging from $10 to $1,000. Contributors were from Holyoke and other cities and towns in Western Massachusetts, along with Boston, Connecticut, Rhode Island, New York, Maryland, Florida, Washington, D.C., llinois and California, the report showed.

Prominent contributors to Morse included Stephen Bosco of Arrow Properties Inc. of Holyoke and Medford, $135; Jay Breines of Northampton, chief executive officer of Holyoke Health Center, $100; Holyoke School Committee member Erin Brunelle, $100; Robert Judge of South Hadley, city of Holyoke personnel administrator, $100. The mayor appoints the personnel administrator subject to City Council confirmation; City Councilor at Large Rebecca Lisi, $70; the Committee to Reelect James M. Leahy, a Holyoke councilor at large, $25; the Jourdain Committee, which is for City Council President Kevin A. Jourdain, $25; and state Rep. Aaron M. Vega, D-Holyoke, $100.

Morse spent $50,858 and had a remaining balance of $36,259,the report shows.

Morse paid $7,600 to Connection Strategies of Chicago, Illinois for polling and research; nearly $5,200 to Kate Froehlich of Ludlow for campaign fundraising; $5,000 to campaign manager David Grizzanti; $2,500 to Scott Hancock of Springhill, Tennessee for campaign video advertising; and $1,587 to Shield Political Research of South Bend, Indian for political research.

Soto, who is in his second term as Ward 2 councilor, began the recent filing period with a campaign fund of $3,229. He spent $9,825 and had a remaining balance of $5,299, the report shows.

Prominent contributors to Soto include Councilor at Large Daniel B. Bresnahan, $25; Committee To Elect Lisa Wong, of Fitchburg, $100. Wong, the mayor of Fitchburg, is Soto's wife; Dr. Juan Cruz, candidate for the Ward 1 City Council seat, $75; former state treasurer Steven Grossman of Newton, $500; Holyoke Tax Collector David Guzman, $50; and Holyoke Ward 5 Councilor Linda L. Vacon, $25, the report shows.

Among Soto's expenses was $1,500 for consulting services from KnoxCannon Strategies of Beverly, the report shows.

Campaign finance report for Fran O'Connell, May 1 to Sept. 14:

Campaign finance report for Holyoke Mayor Alex Morse, Jan. 1 to Sept. 4:

Campaign finance report for Anthony Soto, Jan. 1 to Sept. 4:

CHICOPEE – The City Council has agreed to spend $425,000 to turn vacant land near the Massachusetts Turnpike into a shovel-ready industrial park, despite misgivings of a number of councilors who said they were uncomfortable about investing money into private property. The council voted 8-5 Tuesday to withdraw the $425,000 from the city's stabilization account and give it to the...

CHICOPEE - The City Council has agreed to spend $425,000 to turn vacant land near the Massachusetts Turnpike into a shovel-ready industrial park, despite misgivings of a number of councilors who said they were uncomfortable about investing money into private property.

The council voted 8-5 Tuesday to withdraw the $425,000 from the city's stabilization account and give it to the Westover Metropolitan Development Corp. so it can go through the extensive the Massachusetts Environmental Policy Act permitting process to prepare the nearly 100-acre Air Park South for business development.

By allocating the money, it will mean the city will have one of the few industrial parcels of that size ready for development, City Councilor James K. Tillotson said.

"It is a gamble but it will create jobs," he said.

He said the way the non-profit economic development agency is set up makes it nearly impossible to receive a bank loan so receiving money from the city is one of the few ways it can start the permitting process.

The proposal came up after Niagara bottling company expressed an interest in locating in Air Park South, but went elsewhere when it realized the permitting process would take 18 months or longer.

Air Park South was created around 2009 when the city sold Western Metropolitan Development Corp. 57 unused acres of property it owned near the Massachusetts Turnpike for $1.45 million. It later sold an additional about 10 acres, originally believed to be owned by the Roman Catholic Diocese of Springfield but later found to be city property, to the development corps for $100,000. That property was combined with 30 adjacent acres that the non-profit agency already owned.

Councilor Shane D. Brooks said he agreed with Tillotson saying public and private partnerships are getting more common.

It is not that much different than trying to attract new businesses by offering tax incentives that reduce the property taxes new businesses pay for the first few years they are located in a community which Chicopee has done in the past, Councilor Frank N. Laflamme said.

But other councilors questioned the promise that the non-profit will pay the city back when it sells the property.

Councilor Gerard J. Roy, Ward 9, questioned how the city could recoup the money, especially if the corporation goes bankrupt. In addition he said no environmental testing has been done so it is possible that the land may be not be developable.

The agency has given the city no collateral that will ensure the money is paid back, said Councilor Gerard A. Roy, at large.

He said he is also concerned that the same agency runs the Chicopee River Business Park, which was opened more than 15 years ago and has remained mostly vacant.

"To be perfectly honest with you, I don't want it developed," said Councilor Timothy S. McLellan, who represents the ward where Air Park South is located.

He said he is against subsidizing non-profit agencies and does want to preserve green space.

Emily Uguccioni of Chicopee joins Linda Manor Assisted Living

Emily Uguccioni  

Northampton - Emily Uguccioni of Chicopee has joined Linda Manor Assisted Living as Executive Director. Uguccioni is a Certified Dementia Practitioner and has nearly ten years of experience in the assisted living and long-term care field.

Uguccioni earned her Bachelor of Science in Health Services Administration from Springfield College and certification as a dementia practitioner from the National Council of Certified Dementia Practitioners in 2014. She most recently served as Director of Operations and Services at Seabury Active Life Community in Bloomfield, Connecticut

"I'm excited by the opportunities presented at Linda Manor Assisted Living," said Uguccioni. "Berkshire Healthcare's mission and vision, and our commitment to excellent customer service, resonate with me. Linda Manor Assisted Living and our sister facility, Linda Manor Extended Care, have a unique opportunity to serve our community by providing high quality, person-centered care across the continuum. Our crucial integration promotes wellness and strives to maximize the quality of life for all residents, offering resident-focused care for those living with Alzheimer's and other forms of memory loss and dementia."

Uguccioni is a member of the Education Conference Committee of the Alzheimer's Association of Connecticut and the Board of Directors of the Connecticut Coalition to Improve End of Life Care.

Building inspector Joe Fydenkevez has declined to act against Eric Berzins, saying the brewery owner is within the bounds of his 2011 special permit.

EASTHAMPTON -- A long-brewing conflict in a rural Easthampton neighborhood is finally coming to a head.

Neighbors to Fort Hill Brewery at 30 Fort Hill Rd. for months have complained that amplified music and beer drinking at the establishment, as well as vehicular traffic generated by the brewery's weekend events, not only disturb their peace and quiet, but violate the terms of the establishment's Planning Board permit.

They have also claimed, in various emails to city officials, that permissions recently granted to Fort Hill by the city's Licensing Board are in direct conflict with limitations imposed by the Planning Board when it issued its special permit for the business in 2011.

"The left hand doesn't know what the right hand is doing," said Joyce Pietraszkiewicz of 15 Fort Hill Rd., who added that she and her neighbors "hit brick walls" in their attempts to communicate with city officials.

Now they have decided to take action, and will appear before the Zoning Board of Appeals on Oct. 8 to argue that the brewery is violating the terms of its special permit, issued four years ago.

"The facility will produce and bottle alcoholic beverages and may host tours, but will not include a pub or retail component," states the Sept. 28, 2011 permit for a "brewery manufacturing and processing facility," issued by the Planning Board to proprietor and head brewer Eric Berzins.

The three-member Licensing Board in October of 2014 subsequently issued Berzins a pouring permit that allow pints to be sold and consumed on-premise, and in May granted an entertainment license that contains no limitations on noise, amplification, or hours.

Berzins began advertising music events on Thursdays and Fridays between 4-7 p.m., and Saturday 2-6 p.m. where craft beer is sold by the glass. He said his parking lot can hold around 100 cars.

"The Brewery operates today in direct violation of the special permit issued by the Planning Board, as the pouring permit allows the establishment to operate essentially as a bar," wrote John and Melissa Knybel of 17 Fort Hill Rd. to Building Commissioner Joseph Fydenkevez on July 23.

Douglas Russell of 9 Fort Hill Rd. also wrote to Fydenkevez, saying that traffic generated on the narrow, unlit country road creates a public safety hazard, and that live music and consumption of alcohol at the brewery are not in compliance with the special permit.

Fydenkevez on Aug. 19 declined to take any enforcement action. In a short email to several neighbors he said "it appears Eric has applied for and was issued all the proper permits to do what he is doing there. As far as the other boards and committees decisions, I cannot speak for them. If your peace is being disturbed you may wish to contact the police."

Any decision of the building inspector may be appealed to the Zoning Board of Appeals within 30 days. On late Wednesday afternoon (Sept. 16) Russell did just that, and delivered a formal appeal of Fydenkevez' ruling to City Clerk Barbara LaBombard, who copied the Planning Dept.

Found at the brewery earlier on Wednesday afternoon, Berzins said he was operating in compliance with all city requirements, and that the neighbor's concerns were overstated. He said his brewery is open on limited weekend hours, closes down before 7 p.m., and does not meet the definition of "pub" as defined by the Alcoholic Beverage Control Commission.

He said that he sells "growlers" of beer and tee shirts at the brewery. The phrase in the special permit denying "retail" at the brewery was added in error, he said, and was never part of the 2011 Planning Board discussion. He said he might move to amend the terms of his special permit to correct the language.

Berzins added that Easthampton police have regularly visited the establishment over the summer in response to noise complaints from the neighborhood. He said the premise features mostly amplified folk music.

He said he employs seven-and-a-half full-time employees and that he will pay more than $18,000 in real estate taxes this year, as well as an estimated $60,00 in personal property taxes to the city.

Last August Fort Hill delivered its first batch of lager to local restaurants, nearly two years after the $4.2-million facility broke ground. Berzins, who possesses a farmer-brewer license, grows his own hops on the property. The three acres near the Manhan River is zoned for industry.

The matter of the Fort Hill Brewery special permit will likely be heard before the ZBA on Oct. 8, said Assistant Planner Jamie Webb.

Pietraszkiewicz, in her letter to Fydenkevez, noted that Berzins in May withdrew an application before the Planning Board to operate a "beer garden" at the brewery. Later, he applied for the pouring permit and entertainment license from the Licensing Board, thereby creating a beer garden "for all intents and purposes," she wrote.

Pietraszkiewicz said that in July she sat on her front porch and recorded music coming from the brewery, around 200 yards away, with her smart phone. One recording, which she replayed for a reporter, featured an up-tempo rendition of the Prince classic "Raspberry Beret" with brewery patrons heard joining in on the chorus.

"Often the guest bands are outside," she wrote to Fydenkevez. "The volume level of the music and patron talk is way beyond what home owner neighbors on Fort Hill should tolerate."

Cadieux did not immediately respond to an email requesting comment.

Mary Serreze can be reached at mserreze@gmail.com

After receiving a one-star review on his business' Yelp page, a Newton business owner is taking the review to court.

After receiving a one-star review on his business' Yelp page, a Newton business owner is taking the review to court.

George Pelz, the owner of Pageo Jewelers, filed a lawsuit against a woman after she wrote a negative review of his store on Yelp.

A Colorado woman wrote a one-star review of the company in February. The former Massachusetts resident, who goes by "Linda G." on the site, said she and her husband were loyal customers of the store and spent thousands on "gorgeous but definitely way overpriced jewelry," she wrote. "It would be cheaper to fly to Italy, get a villa and buy it yourself!"

When in need of money, the Yelper said she spoke with the owner of the store. "George took all the jewelry that I had ever bought there and gave me peanuts for it!!" 

Pelz responded one week later, calling the woman a "Yelp Terrorist." He wrote that her review was a "complete fabrication," and demanded Yelp take the review down. 

Over six months later the review is still live on the Yelp page. 

Pelz filed a lawsuit against "Linda G." in July for libel and defamation. 

"The foregoing statements were and are wholly false and untrue and defamed PAGEO and George Pelz," the complaint reads. "Mr. Pelz suffered personal humiliation, shame and disgrace and mental suffering as a direct result of this."

The lawsuit isn't against Yelp, but Pelz seeks a Massachusetts court to force the California-based company to disclose the name and address of "Linda G." 

Yelp has previously denied the request saying it violates a user's First Amendment right to speak with anonymity. 

After the lawsuit was written about by technology site Ars Technica, Pageo Jewelers have received more negative reviews on the company Yelp page. 

Yelpers from Massachusetts and other parts of the country have written one-star reviews criticizing the company for taking the bad review to court. 

Bryan L., of Canton, wrote, "Threatening free speech? No way. Do NOT patronize this idiot. Suing a Yelper for leaving a one-star review? Better sue everyone else on here that does too. I hope these morons go out of business. As another Yelper put it, this is America. You do not threaten free speech in America." 

The 17-day fair opens its gates in West Springfield on Friday morning and runs through Oct. 4. Watch video

Friendly's ice cream cones, hot fudge sundaes and Fribbles will be a part of The Big E experience this year.

For the first time in the Wilbraham-based company's 80-year history, it will be an exhibitor in the Massachusetts Building. It has added a new display and sales area within the building on the Avenue of States.

Friendly's cool treats will be available along side Carol's Original Kettle Corn and Koffee Kup Bakery's Whoopie pies and cupcakes.

Veteran fair-goers know this is not the first-time Friendly's ice cream has been available at The Big E.

Back in the 1960s, Friendly's had a brick stand, modeled after their classic restaurant design, located near the Coliseum building, according Noreen P. Tassinari
director of marketing for The Big E.

The 17-day Eastern States Exposition opens its gates in West Springfield on Friday morning and  runs through Oct. 4.

Yolanda De La Cruz has been in banking and insurance since 1986.

SPRINGFIELD — When it comes to one's hard earned money it can be difficult to decide how to properly invest it, save it and spend it.

"One thing I always tell people is to start planning early, whether it's for your retirement, kids college education, do it now," said Yolanda De La Cruz, who owns DP Insurance & Financial Services LLC in Springfield along with her husband Samuel Perez.

This Friday the couple will be celebrating Hispanic Heritage Month in conjunction with the one year anniversary at their business located at 878 Liberty Street in Springfield, but De La Cruz's career in finance goes back to the late 1980s when she became a supervisor at Bank of America.

"I always had an interest in finances and passionate to service and educate people," she said.

De La Cruz later went on to be an assistant manager, a business specialist and eventually an investment representative first with Bank of America and later with MassMutual until finally she decided to branch out on her own.

"I truly love working with families and helping them plan for those important moments in their lives whether it's saving for retirement, investing in life insurance or even funeral expenses policies," she said.

De La Cruz said there is no fee for people to come in for a consultation with an agent.

DP Insurance & Financial Services, LLC currently has eight agents including two agents who work directly with La Rosa Funeral home in Holyoke and La Puerta Del Cielo in Springfield.

"These agents work with us, but also deal directly with the funeral homes offering insurance to people who may have a medical condition and think they may not be approved, such as a final expense policy to cover their funeral cost. These policies guarantee a benefit alleviating the burden to their loved ones," she said. " DP Insurance represents top rated insurance companies with over 100 years of experience specializing in life Insurance products such as final expense for funeral cost at an affordable price."

DP Insurance and Financial Services in Springfield celebrates one year in business. Recently the owners and employees participated in the Springfield Puerto Rican Parade.Submitted by Yolanda De La Cruz 

De La Cruz said having a bilingual staff has made it possible for many clients to learn how to responsibly manage their finances.

"A lot of it can be very confusing when it comes to retirement options with 401ks and pension plan rollovers or life insurance policies in general. We are here to make them feel comfortable, we can speak to them in Spanish so they fully understand their retirement options and what kind of insurance they are purchasing and why," she said.

De La Cruz said the company takes pride in servicing the Hispanic community by providing services across the state as well as Connecticut and surrounding areas.

As the business continues to grow DP Insurance & Financial Services, LLC hopes to offer more seminars on financial planning as well as hiring more career agents.

"I enjoy helping other agents start their careers and we definitely want to grow the business," she said.

The open house will be held Sept. 18 from 11-2 p.m.

Before year's end, many analysts still expect the Fed to raise its key short-term rate, which it's kept near zero since 2008.

By MARTIN CRUTSINGER

WASHINGTON -- The Federal Reserve is keeping U.S. interest rates at record lows in the face of threats from a weak global economy, persistently low inflation and unstable financial markets.

Ending a highly anticipated meeting, Fed officials said Thursday that while the U.S. job market is solid, global pressures may "restrain economic activity" and further drag down already low inflation.

Signs of a sharp slowdown in China have intensified fear among investors about the U.S. and global economy. And low oil prices and a high-priced dollar have kept inflation undesirably low.

Before year's end, many analysts still expect the Fed to raise its key short-term rate, which it's kept near zero since 2008. A higher Fed rate would eventually send rates up on many consumer and business loans.

"All this really does is punt," said Scott Clemons, chief investment strategist for Brown Brothers Harriman's private banking business.

Clemons said he expects the Fed to raise rates before the end of the year, especially if concern in the financial markets about China's economic prospects eases.

"The Fed is paying attention to what is going on abroad," he said. "That's all code for China."

Stock prices barely moved after the Fed's decision was announced at 2 p.m. Eastern time. But bond prices rose, and yields fell.

The Dow Jones industrial average was up 56 points to 16,795 at 2:15 p.m. Eastern time.

Financial markets had been zigzagging with anxiety as investors tried to divine whether the Fed would start phasing out the period of extraordinarily low borrowing rates it launched at a time of crisis.

The Fed's action Thursday was approved on a 9-1 vote, with Jeffrey Lacker casting the first dissenting vote this year. Lacker, president of the Fed's Atlanta regional bank, had pushed for the Fed to begin raising rates by moving the federal funds rate up by a quarter-point.

Instead, the Fed retained language it has been using that it will be appropriate to raise interest rates when it sees "some further improvement in the labor market" and is "reasonably confident" that inflation will move back to the Fed's optimal inflation target of 2 percent.

The Fed's preferred measure of inflation was up just 1.2 percent in the latest reading and has been below 2 percent for more than three years.

In an updated economic forecast, 13 of the 17 Fed policymakers said they see the first rate hike occurring this year. In June, 15 Fed officials predicted that the first rate hike would occur this year. The forecast also reduced the number of rate hikes this year to show an expectation of just one quarter-point increase, rather than two that had been the expectation at the June meeting.

The new forecast significantly lowered the expectation for inflation this year to show the Fed's preferred inflation gauge rising just 0.4 percent, down from a 0.7 percent forecast in June. The change takes into account the further rise in the value of the dollar, which makes imports cheaper, and a recent drop in oil prices. The Fed's forecast still foresees inflation accelerating to a 1.7 percent increase next year, still below its 2 percent target.

The new forecast has unemployment dropping to 5 percent by the end of this year, down from 5.3 percent in June. The unemployment rate in August dropped to a seven-year low of 5.1 percent.

Before Thursday's decision, some economists argued that many factors -- from a sharply slowing China to the tumult in markets to persistently less-than-optimal inflation -- raised concerns about a rate hike. Others contended that with the U.S. job market considered essentially recovered from the Great Recession, it was time to start edging toward normal rates.

The anxiety that gripped investors stemmed in part from concern that once the Fed starts raising its key rate, other rates -- for mortgages, car loans, business borrowing -- will eventually rise. Some fear the economy might suffer.

Yet the Fed's influence on many consumer and business rates is only indirect. In the short run at least, those rates could continue to stay low, held down by low inflation globally and by a flow of money into U.S Treasurys.

Fed officials have stressed that once the central bank starts raising rates, the process will be extremely gradual. The Fed might pause for months after its first hike and assess the consequences before proceeding further. Still, economists generally say the effects of a series of small rate hikes will be negligible.

Until turmoil struck markets this summer, a September rate hike seemed a lock. Then, China's surprise decision to devalue its currency ignited fears that the world's second-largest economy was weakening faster than assumed. Stocks tumbled.

At an economic conference last month in Jackson Hole, Wyoming, Fed officials sent mixed signals about this week's meeting. Some indicated they were ready to raise rates if markets had settled and if the economy kept improving.

In July, when Yellen delivered an economic report to Congress, she reiterated that the Fed would likely raise rates before year's end. But she wasn't specific.

AP writer Paul Wiseman contributed to this report.

A gallery at the web design firm features the work of local artists.

EASTHAMPTON -- "Speak your dreams out loud," encourages the new sign for Cider House Media, posted outside its 28 Main St. headquarters.

Over the summer, California transplants Lennie Appelquist and Elizabeth LaPrade did just that by moving their web design company from a small office in Northampton to a new, spacious location in Easthampton -- the former site of Tru Beer, a craft beer shop which closed its doors in February.

The light-filled space has undergone a complete makeover, and now includes gallery space. This month's exhibit features the work of artist Ann Knickerbocker, who was on hand for the Cider House grand opening Sept. 12, which coincided with the city's monthly Art Walk.

"We've created an attractive and convenient place to consult with clients," said LaPrade. "There's a lot to be gained by meeting face-to-face."

Cider House Media offers a full range of graphic design and marketing services, with a focus upon web development and design.

"We'll provide anything from a simple business card to deep-dive market research," said LaPrade, the company's executive producer. "Our clients will always get an original design."

President and lead creative Lennie Appelquist said it's not just about creating websites, but delving into a client's needs.

"What's the purpose of your website, and how do you want to be represented in the world?" queried Appelquist.

Appelquist is a Southern California native who worked in the film industry. Not long ago, he moved east with LaPrade, who grew up in Easthampton and attended the Williston-Northampton School.

"I love this community," she said. LaPrade noted the many positive changes the town has seen in recent years, with new enterprises such as Small Oven Bakery, three craft breweries, and an influx of artists.

The two work with a half-dozen independent graphic designers, web developers, and copy writers. LaPrade and Appelquist offer photography services as well as web development and graphic design. 

Recent projects include new websites for Coco and the Cellar Bar at 95 Main St., and for Gerry's Music Shop in South Hadley.

"Now it's easy for Gerry's Music customers to set up their instrument rentals online," said Appelquist. "We think it's a beautiful website, and we gave them measurable results."

Cider House is an ideal place to start when attending Art Walk, held every second Saturday, said LaPrade. The building anchors the north end of the city's downtown, while galleries and shops on Cottage Street anchor the south.

"Art Walk starts here," she said.

Mary Serreze can be reached at mserreze@gmail.com