Woodchuck killed in Easthampton after odd behavior

By Owen Boss

Staff Writer

EASTHAMPTON - Nearly one year after a Clapp Street woman was bitten by a rabid woodchuck, a local animal control officer shot and killed a woodchuck near a Ferry Street day-care center Tuesday afternoon.

Although it will remain unclear whether the animal was rabid until test results are returned, Jennifer Kline, who spotted and assisted in trapping the animal, said the animal's unusual behavior was cause for concern.

"It was in the back yard next door to us the other day and none of us really knew what it was," Kline said. "It was walking a couple of feet and then falling on its side and then walking again. It was just acting a little off."

Out of concern for her children, who were playing in the pool in her backyard, and her neighbor's dog, who was leashed nearby, Kline called her neighbor, who called city police.

"I just didn't want some sick thing running around the yard," Kline said.

Behavior indicative of rabies can include stumbling, lethargy, falling over or aggressive behavior, such as charging and biting - experts suggest people call for help from an animal control officer when confronted with animals in this condition.

After Kline trapped the animal under a cardboard box and weighted it down with bricks, Hilltown Animal Control Officer Robert Jackman and Easthampton Sgt. Dominic Serino arrived at Kline's 74 Ferry St. home and decided to kill the animal.

"Apparently they said it was definitely a woodchuck and it was just covered in ticks," Kline said. "It was probably pretty sick."

Jennifer Laprade, who manages an in-home day care center next door to Kline's house, said she didn't know if the animal posed any danger to her children, but worried that one of them could accidentally wander into its path.

"I saw something walking around in the grass and I thought they got a new pet because it kind of looks like a weasel or something and it was too big to be a ferret," Laprade said.

In July of last year, an unidentified Clapp Street woman was working in her backyard when a woodchuck emerged from the bushes and latched on to her ankle.

After being captured in a trap baited with tomatoes and broccoli and put down by Jackman, the animal was sent to a lab in Jamaica Plain, where it tested positive for rabies.

At the time, Jackman, who has been the city's animal control officer for 10 years, told a Gazette reporter that despite sending in many animals over the years, it was the first time he had ever had a test come back positive and stressed that residents shouldn't panic.

Woodchucks, unlike foxes and raccoons, are typically not carriers of rabies, and positive tests for any creature are rare, he said.

Owen Boss can be reached at oboss@gazettenet.com.

Biker benefit to help disabled war veterans

By Owen Boss

Staff Writer

EASTHAMPTON - The local American Legion is organizing a motorcycle ride Sunday to raise money for an organization that pairs war veterans with assistance dogs that help them live more independently.

The 75-mile ride, scheduled to begin at the American Legion Post on Pleasant Street at 8:30 a.m., comes a year after post members provided Kevin Lambert, an Iraq War veteran from Boston, with around $5,000 to help purchase, train and bond with Ronnie, his new assistance dog.

"The dog was given to him, they trained together and he has been working with it for the last year or so," said Dori Melnik, of Hatfield, who is a member of the American Legion Riders. She said she jumped at the opportunity to help support area veterans.

"He is so happy with his dog that he is going to travel west this Sunday to participate and see what we do," said Melnik.

All the money raised from the ride through the $20 per rider fee will go to NEADS/Dogs For Deaf and Disabled Americans, a Princeton-based non-profit established in 1976 that trains and provides independence to people who are deaf or physically disabled through the use of canine helpers.

NEADS has trained over 1,300 assistance dog teams from all over the country. Each year, the nonprofit prepares more than 50 teams and, after a two-week training period, holds graduation ceremonies for both the dogs and their new owners.

Bethany Costigan, of South Deerfield, whose husband, Jeffrey Costigan, is in the Army and deployed for pre-mobilization training earlier this week, said she decided to help organize the ride after seeing how successful last year's ride was.

"We raise the money and NEADS will get back to us when they have an in-state veteran who is in need and we head down to the graduation ceremony," Costigan said. "My husband is in the Army and God forbid, if he ever needed a dog, I'd like to know that there are people ready to help get him one."

Also co-sponsoring the benefit ride, Costigan said, is the Hartford-based Haymond Law Firm, coolbikerides.com and the Springfield HOG Chapter, or Harley Owners Group.

Although this is only the second year residents have come together for this cause, Costigan said she hopes it will become a tradition.

At each stop along the ride, which is expected to wrap up at about 10 a.m., each rider will get a playing card that will contribute to a poker hand to be turned in at the finish line.

The riders with the highest and lowest hands at the finish, Costigan said, will win cash prizes. Also, Costigan said, a lunch will be served from 1 to 3 p.m. at the Legion.

Owen Boss can be reached at oboss@gazettenet.com

Job that bedeviled I-91 neighbors near end

By Owen Boss

Staff Writer

EASTHAMPTON - All that lies between a "nightmare" road project and clear sailing on an Interstate 91 bridge - and on East Street below - is the planting of grass seed and a bit of paving.

The much-reviled job, which dragged on for more than three years, exceeded its budget and has been blamed for several highway accidents, is expected to wrap up by the end of next week.

This news is music to the ears of city officials, but was met with skepticism from some East Street residents, who said many missed deadlines make them wary of any promises from the state about when the project will be finished.

Richard Nangle, a spokesman for the state's Department of Transportation, said Monday that a bit of paving and the sowing of some grass seed are the only steps left before the work is complete. There will be sidewalk construction in the coming weeks, he said, but that work is not expected to interfere with vehicle traffic.

"The work on the I-91 bridges is already complete. The contractor will be completing the final paving on East Street next week," said Nangle. "He still needs to hydroseed' the embankment, but has been holding off on that since it has been so dry."

The paving of East Street, which runs below the I-91 overpass, will take place Aug. 4, Nangle said, with line-striping expected the following day. Both tasks, Nangle said, will take place during normal work hours and will require alternating one-way traffic as they are being completed.

Although it was originally scheduled to be completed last October, design errors and construction problems brought work to a stop for spells. The delays forced MIG Corp., the project's Acton contractor, to request a series of extensions in order to finish the $11.4 million task of replacing the bridge over East Street with a three-span, steel girder bridge.

Wary reaction

Annie Larochelle, whose 25 East St. home is at the heart of the construction zone, said she finds it hard to believe that the project is nearing completion after watching it wear on from her window for more than three years.

What with the noise and dust kicked up by the construction, Larochelle said, her family found living near the project a "nightmare." She said she heard countless accidents caused by Jersey barriers funneling I-91 traffic past the site.

"We had to choose between going through Holyoke or Northampton to get home because there was no other way," Larochelle said. "There was a ton of noise, bright lights came in through the windows and I can't even tell you how many accidents we heard."

Jacqueline Sienkiewicz, 50, of 51 East St., said her children can't remember a time before construction and predicted a block party will be scheduled if the end is really near.

"We haven't been able to use the bike path in three years," Sienkiewicz said. "The noise, lights and traffic near our house was unbelievable."

In addition to lights coming in through her children's windows at night, Sienkiewicz said night construction took place during the spring when they would be studying for school tests. Bad language used by both motorists and construction workers made living next door to the project difficult.

"What we've found from living near this is that deadlines don't matter," Sienkiewicz said. "The state is going to do what they want at the pace that they have been going at for the last three years now."

Local DPW Director Joseph I. Pipczynski said he, too, is eager for the project to wrap up.

"This is going to be a relief for the city and a relief for the DPW to not have to deal with this," Pipczynski said. "It is going to be such a pleasure not to have a one-lane road through that site. Providing two lanes of traffic under the bridge will be great."

When seeking an extension last September, MIG Corp. detailed nearly a dozen problem areas in which the company cited the loss of 463 working days on the job dating back to April 2007, according to correspondence.

MIG Corp.'s last request for more time in April was the result of what the state refers to as "constructability issues" related to the earlier project design changes.

In all, the project called for demolishing the existing overpasses and constructing two new bridge structures, superstructures, piers, abutments and roads on I-91 north and south over East Street.

Below the overpass, work included a full-depth reconstruction of East Street, including drainage, curbing, signs, pavement marking, as well as the implementation of environmental and traffic safety controls.

For more information about the Department of Transportation or updates on the project, residents are encouraged to visit the department's website: www.massdot.state.ma.us.

Owen Boss can be reached at oboss@gazettenet.com

Two injured in I-91 rollover

HATFIELD - Two New Hampshire women were taken to the hospital Thursday afternoon after their vehicle rolled over in a two-car accident on Interstate 91, police said.

According to state police Sgt. Sean Murphy, at 12:30 p.m., emergency personnel from Northampton and Hatfield responded to a report that an elderly woman was trapped inside an overturned 2010 Subaru Impreza between Exits 21 and 22 on I-91 south.

Murphy said members of the Northampton Fire Department freed Virginia Hancock, 80, and treated the driver of the vehicle, Kersten Laveroni, 18, both of Newbury, N.H., before taking them by ambulance to Baystate Medical Center in Springfield.

Although it is unknown what caused the crash, Murphy said another car, driven by Amanda Malone, 28, of Easthampton, was also involved in the accident.

Laveroni was treated and released and Hancock was still listed in fair condition Thursday night, a hospital spokeswoman said.

OWEN BOSS

Northampton historical panel spares rectory

By Owen Boss

Staff Writer

NORTHAMPTON - St. Elizabeth Ann Seton Parish's hopes of quickly tearing down an abutting rectory hit a speed bump Tuesday night when the city's Historical Commission voted 6-1 to preferably preserve the 180-year-old structure.

Although prior to the meeting commission members were also prepared to decide the fate of the nearby Christian Life Center, commission Chairwoman Barbara B. Blumenthal announced that the building falls within Northampton's Central Business District and a decision on its demolition would therefore be voted on tonight at a meeting of the city's Central Business Architecture Committee.

Tuesday's public hearing drew a small crowd of 15 residents to the Community Room at JFK Middle School and all who spoke, including the church's pastor, the Rev. John E. Connors, called on the panel to approve the demolition in the hopes that it would allow for more parking spaces and a larger gathering place for the sudden increase in parishioners.

Arlene Roula, who serves on the church's interim Parish Council, said she came to the meeting to address the commission as a parishioner and reminded members of the importance of having an abutting community center that can provide for all of the parish's churchgoers.

"It is so important to be able to walk right from the ceremony at the church to a parish hall to have a celebration," Roula said. "Especially for this newly formed parish."

Sacred Heart Church is now home to the newly created St. Elizabeth Ann Seton Parish, which formed after the consolidation of five Northampton parishes this year. Built around 1916, the church itself is on the city's list of historic properties.

The rectory, built in 1830, required a review by the commission under a demolition-delay law enacted in 2005. The local ordinance protects properties from demolition for up to 12 months if the commission determines they are historically, architecturally or culturally significant.

The ordinance requires a review of all properties built in 1900 or earlier and properties built from 1901 to 1939 if they are listed on a historical inventory complied by the Historical Commission.

The commission's decision means the Roman Catholic Diocese of Springfield can reapply for a demolition permit after 12 months, which commission member David Drake said should allow designers time to consider the option of preserving the rectory.

"This ordinance is meant to encourage thoughtfulness, not impede change," Drake said.

Bruce Kriviskey, who cast the only vote against preserving the rectory, said modern renovations to the building meant that it no longer fit the commission's criteria for preservation, including whether the structure is intact and in the original style.

"In my opinion, based on my experience both as an architect and an architectural historian, I think the church should be taken out back and shot for having taken this original building and turned it into a piece of 20th-century junk," Kriviskey said, holding up a photo of the original building. "This is not a representation of the historical quality that was there to start with. To me (the rectory) does not represent the architectural quality of a building built here in Northampton during that period."

With the closing of three churches in the city in January, attendance at the Elm Street church has increased dramatically and created a parking crunch, according to Connors. Sacred Heart Church currently has parking for 45 vehicles; had the commission approved demolition Tuesday night, he anticipated adding 100 more spaces for parishioners.

In addition to parking, Connors also said he hoped the demolition would allow for the construction of a new green space and parish hall, the preliminary plans for which were presented to commission members Tuesday night.

For the time being, the parish will continue to use the hall at St. John Cantius Church on Hawley Street, which closed along with Blessed Sacrament and St. Mary of the Assumption churches on Elm Street. Our Lady of the Annunciation, in Florence, remains open as a place of worship, serving as a chapel.

Owen Boss can be reached at oboss@gazettenet.com.

United Way gets $10,000 lift from Ninja Turtles

By Owen Boss

Staff Writer

NORTHAMPTON - Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles to the rescue - again.

When the United Way of Hampshire County's hopes of reaching its fundraising goal were nearly dashed, the agency got another boost Tuesday from Mirage Studios, creators of the famed adolescent reptilian superheroes.

Until Mirage pledged $10,000 in addition to the $25,000 raised during the "TMNT Challenge" last September, United Way's ambitious campaign goal of $1.225 million was in jeopardy.

According to John Ebbets, CEO of United Way of Hampshire County, Mirage executives decided to step up to the plate after learning that the campaign was projected to reach $1,215,000 - just $10,000 less than its original target.

"We announced that we thought we were going to be just short of our goal and spent another month and a half trying to close the gap," Ebbets said.

"When they heard we still hadn't reached it, they said they wanted to help make it happen. They've been tremendous to work with and have been a great asset to the city of Northampton."

Gary Richardson, CEO of Mirage Studios, said he was thrilled with the success of the TMNT Challenge and its ability to stimulate an increase in the number of first-time donors and workplace giving. "The fact that our initial challenge generated far more than $25,000 in matched giving made it an easy decision for us to step up and close the gap," Richardson said.

"And, by nature, the Turtles never like to leave a job unfinished."

When creating the Ninja Turtles franchise in 1985, Mirage founders worked out of a renovated factory space in Florence, where the bulk of the creative output was done, according to the company's website.

Funds raised in this year's campaign will be allocated to a network of United Way Partner Agencies working in three main program areas - children and youth, health and safety, and economic security.

The campaign also supports the United Way's work with the Emergency Food and Shelter Program and a variety of other community initiatives.

To learn more about the United Way or programs the group offers in your community, residents are encouraged to visit the organization's website: www.unitedwayhampshirecounty.org.

Owen Boss can be reached at oboss@gazettenet.com.

Area communities awarded federal grant funding

By Owen Boss

Staff Writer

Community Development Corporations across the Valley were awarded federal grant funding Thursday afternoon aimed at completing infrastructure improvement projects, boosting social services and developing the construction of affordable housing and revamping area businesses.

Hampshire County communities listed among the 68 cities and towns in line to receive more than $33.6 million in federal Community Development Block Grants are Amherst, Chesterfield, Cummington, Goshen, Plainfield, Southampton, Westhampton, Williamsburg and Worthington. Collectively, local towns will be awarded $4.2 million for a wide variety of programs.

The grants will help communities get to work on a variety of projects that will make a real difference in peoples lives and our Commonwealth stronger in the long run, Patrick said. Whether they are used to spruce up homes or storefronts, better public services, or replace streets and sidewalks, these funds will generate jobs and make neighborhoods better places to live, work and conduct business.

In Amherst, the local CDC stands to receive $1 million for Olympia Drive infrastructure improvements; Amherst Housing Authority property modernization on four units; and a variety of social services, including the Big Brother Big Sister programs, Campus to Kids, childcare tuition, childcare subsidies, Survival Center family night, and Warming Place sheltering services.

The Hilltown CDC, which represents the towns of Chesterfield, Williamsburg, Goshen, Westhampton, Cummington, Peru, Plainfield and Worthington will be awarded $1.16 million for Housing rehabilitation on seven units; elevator for Nash Hill senior housing; first time homebuyer counseling and assistance; and social services, including childcare subsidies, healthcare for the elderly, elder in-home living assistance, family counseling and the local food pantry. Also, Worthington will receive funding toward handicapped access planning.

Every year we solicit new proposals from social service providers in our area and assist them in securing grant funding, said Hilltown CDC Housing Director Lischetti. This funding is great news for us.

The Pioneer Valley Planning Commission, which represents the towns of Southampton, Blanford, Granville, and Montogmery secured $874,410 for housing rehabilitation on 20 units and a housing needs assessment.

The CDBG program is the states largest resource for providing cities and towns with funding to support neighborhood revitalization projects and to meet the housing and public service needs of the Commonwealths low- and moderate-income population. The program is administered by the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development and funds are sent by the states Department of Housing and Community Development to cities and towns with populations less than 50,000.

Owen Boss can be reached at oboss@gazettenet.com

Northampton man faces 6th oui charge

NORTHAMPTON - A local man facing a sixth drunken-driving offense denied charges in court Tuesday.

Kevin R. Boyle, 61, of 35 Fruit St., pleaded innocent Tuesday in Northampton District Court to charges of possessing an open container of alcohol in a motor vehicle and operating a motor vehicle while under the influence of alcohol, sixth offense.

According to Sgt. Alan Borowski, on June 2, at 9:14 p.m., Borowski saw Boyle's gray Hyundai Accent speeding northbound on King Street, crossing over the yellow dividing line twice.

As Borowski approached the vehicle on foot after pulling it over, according to court documents, Boyle handed him an open beer that had been resting in the vehicle's center console.

After failing a series of field sobriety tests, Boyle refused to submit to a chemical test and was placed under arrest, according to court documents.

Judge Richard J. Carey released Boyle on $5,000 cash bail and ordered him to return to court Aug. 4 for a pretrial hearing. If convicted of a sixth drunken-driving offense, Boyle could face a fine between $2,000 and $50,000 and a minimum mandatory jail sentence of 2½ years.

- OWEN BOSS

Record highs cook the Valley

By Owen Boss

Staff Writer

It is extremely rare to see a daily high temperature in Massachusetts reach 100 degrees. In fact, in 174 years of record-keeping, the mercury has only climbed that high nine times.

At noon on Tuesday, as Valley residents made every effort to beat the heat, 2010 became the first year in state history with two 100 degree days - and they were back-to-back.

Steve Sauter, who records daily temperatures at a weather station next to Amherst College's Webster Hall, recognized the significance of this week's unseasonable sweltering heat. After reaching 100 degrees Monday afternoon, he said Tuesday's hour-long high of 101 was alarming.

"This is an extremely rare event," Sauter said. "If you are worried about global warming, we started recording temperatures here in 1836 and the first 100 degree day wasn't until 1926. So 90 years went by before we had one."

The other dates for where the temperatures hit 100 degrees or more were: 1948, 100; 1953, 102; 1955, 101; 1964, 100; 1975, 101; 1991, 102; and 2006, 102.

Related stories:
--Weather blamed in truck fire
--Valley workers sweat it out during sizzling daytime temps
--How the pros beat the heat

The hot and humid weather, according to News 22 meteorologist Shiri Spear, is the result of slow-moving high pressure system off the Atlantic coast that is pulling air from the deep South into the Atlantic Northeast and across much of southern New England.

"We are sucking up a lot of hot, humid almost tropical air into our area," Spear said. "This system is a blocked weather pattern, and it looks like it is going to be sitting here until the end of the week."

Despite expecting a midweek thunderstorm, Spear said it won't be enough to return temperatures to where they normally would be this time of year.

"It is going to stay really hot and humid through the end of the work week, and the true release doesn't look like it will be until this weekend," Spear said. "We should start to see drier air and highs in the 80s."

Though there were anecdotal reports of power failures in Northampton, National Grid and Western Mass Electric Co. had no record of any in the area.

According to Accuweather.com, severe heat is the biggest weather-related killer in the country, more than storms or tornadoes.

When the human body takes more heat than it can handle, an illness called hyperthermia can occur, Accuweather reports.

Hyperthermia signs include: cramps, swelling in ankles or feet, sudden dizziness, thirst, dizziness, weakness, lack of coordination and nausea.

Dr. Robert Baevski, who works in the emergency department at Baystate Medical Center in Springfield, said when it comes to heat-related complications, special consideration should be given to children, senior citizens and residents with underlying conditions that could make them more susceptible to hot or muggy weather.

The best solution, Baevski said, is to remain well-hydrated, drink fluids containing electrolytes, avoid prolonged activities outside and stay in an indoor, air-conditioned environment whenever possible. "People should stay inside and dress appropriately in loose-fitting clothing and hats," Baevski said.

He said that basing your overall health on how thirsty you are isn't a good measure of whether or not you may be at risk for heat stroke.

"The initial signs are that you generally don't feel well and people often will complain of having headaches and cramps," Baevski said. "Thirst is not necessarily reflective of your dehydration status."

Owen Boss can be reached at oboss@gazettenet.com

Baby its hot outside: Heat wave hits the Valley

By Owen Boss

Staff Writer

Crank up the air conditioning, drink a lot of water and avoid outdoor activities if you can, as record-setting high temperatures and humidity are expected to scorch locations across the Valley this afternoon.

Local weather experts are predicting today's high temperature will climb into the high 90's with oppressively humid conditions. This has prompted the National Weather Service to issue a heat advisory for most of New England.

According to Dan Amarante, meteorologist for television station ABC 40 Springfield, today's hot and muggy weather can be attributed to a high pressure system off the Atlantic coast that is bringing what he called a "southwestern breeze" to the Eastern half of the country.

"This system has already resulted in record-setting temperatures in locations up and down the East Coast and has brought in some tropical air that will be really humid and oppressive," Amarante said.

"That is what is going to make it very uncomfortable to be outdoors."

Although Amarante is predicting that tomorrow's high will reach 97, one degree hotter than the current record for the day of 96 set in 1999 - the humidity will likely make it feel more like 104.

Suggested precautionary measures during a heat advisory, Amarante said, include staying hydrated, avoiding outdoor activities and watching out for area residents most likely to have heat-related complications, such as infants, young children and the elderly. Also, efforts should be made to provide extra water to household pets who spend an extended period of time outdoors.

Aside from the chance of a scattered thunderstorm on Wednesday or Thursday, Amarante said relief from the humidity isn't expected until this weekend.

"I think it is going to cool off sometime Friday and we will see high temperatures drop down into the upper 80's." Amarante said. "But in terms of getting back to normal weather, I don't think that is going to happen until Sunday or Monday."

Owen Boss can be reached at oboss@gazettenet.com

Independence Day: A Sunday Fourth makes room for a weekend of fun

By Owen Boss

Staff Writer

With the Fourth of July falling on a Sunday this year, celebrations across the Valley can expect larger crowds, and event planners hope to dazzle them with parades, food, activities, music and naturally, fireworks.

And with weather experts predicting that hot, sunny weather will last right through the weekend and into Monday's "official" observance (government offices closed), area residents have a lot to choose from.

Among those looking forward to a bigger turnout than usual Sunday is David Grout, coordinator of Amherst's Fourth of July celebration, who said warm weather and a weekend holiday suggest that residents looking to participate will be ready earlier.

"It just allows us to extend the day," Grout said. "We love it when the holiday falls on a weekend because it means that our celebration is going to be busy from the start of the day right on through to the fireworks."

Amherst parade coordinator Kevin Joy said that local parades are usually a bigger draw when a holiday falls in the middle of the week, because people tend to stay home rather than travel. This year, though, economic troubles could keep many at home.

"I've talked to a lot of people, and I think that this year will be unique because of the economy," Joy said. "They should be more likely to stay close to home for their celebrations."

Indeed, "close to home" offers plenty of attractions, including an Independence Day concert in Deerfield at 3 p.m. Sunday next to the Memorial Hall Museum; the 63rd annual Chesterfield Fourth of July Parade; in Northampton, the swearing-in of 30 new citizens in a ceremony at 11 a.m. Sunday on the lawn at the Hampshire County Courthouse; and a boat parade on Lake Wyola in Shutesbury at dusk.

Once Sunday's festivities are over, many people will be off work and able to rest a bit on Monday, the official observed holiday, when local, state and federal government offices are closed, as are banks, the stock market, and PVTA bus service.

Amherst plans

In Amherst, the annual parade honors Victor Keedy and Joe Osicki, former members of the town's Parade Committee, both of whom died this spring. They have been named Grand Marshals in Remembrance.

This year's parade begins at 3 p.m. at the intersection of College and Pleasant streets and travels through downtown Amherst, ending at the intersection of Triangle and East Pleasant streets.

Family-friendly activities begin at 5 p.m. with a Children's Carnival near the University of Massachusetts McGuirk Stadium, featuring entertainment, and continue with a concert by Zoe Darrow and the Fiddleheads at 6:15 p.m. Fireworks begin at 9:30 p.m., and are visible far and wide.

Chesterfield's famously traditional small-town parade, which sets off at 10:30 a.m. at the corner of Bryant and South streets, is followed by a chicken barbecue, firefighters' muster, food stands, a display by the Hilltown Artisans, a Heritage Pops concert, family baseball, a magic show and balloon-sculpting.

In South Hadley, the local Lions Club will sell hot dogs and offer live music and games beginning at 6 p.m. at the Michael Smith Middle School, followed by fireworks at dusk.

Owen Boss can be reached at oboss@gazettenet.com.

South Hadley school board OKs report

By Owen Boss

Staff Writer

SOUTH HADLEY - Nearly six months after the suicide of Phoebe Prince sent shock waves through the Valley, local School Committee members unanimously approved a final report Wednesday that an anti-bullying task force has been crafting since February.

After a brief discussion with Superintendent of Schools Gus Sayer about rearranging some of the language included in the 60-page final report, committee members Edward J. Boisselle, Lorraine Liantonio and JoAnn Jordan voted in favor of aligning the report's guidelines with school policy.

The anti-bullying task force that wrote the policy was made up of eight subgroups and included more than 100 people. The task force was formed in February after Prince's January suicide, and members had met once a week since then.

Key recommendations in the report include expanding the district's anti-bullying program beyond the ninth grade, where it now ends, to include it through senior year; boosting anti-bullying education at all grade levels; establishing a new anonymous reporting system for bullying incidents and a requirement that school administrators investigate such incidents within one school day of being notified; adopting a "Community Code of Conduct" emphasizing respect and tolerance that will be posted in all public buildings in South Hadley; and reconvening the task force's 29-member steering committee to monitor implementation of new anti-bullying policies.

The report defines bullying as repeated use of "written, verbal or electronic expression," physical acts or "deliberate acts of exclusion" that cause physical or emotional harm. It prohibits bullying that takes place on school grounds or off, if those incidents contribute to a "hostile environment" at school or disrupt the educational process.

In addition to having a problem with approving the report without specifying how many instances of verbal, emotional or physical abuse would constitute bullying, Boisselle voiced concern about whether the school's budget would allow for the implementation of all the task force's recommendations.

"I still have a little bit of a problem signing off on this policy when we are basically already saying that we will have difficulty doing everything in it," Boisselle said.

To quell Boisselle's concerns, prior to the policy's approval, committee members unanimously agreed on a motion to consider changing part of the report listing requirements from "shall" to "may." They will seek legal advice before making a final decision.

"This illustrates again that in order to be compliant with the law, we are rewriting this policy to include the language we feel it should include," Jordan said, "and that we are still in a position where, going forward, a lot of judgment is going to have to be made by administrators of each individual school building."

Owen Boss can be reached at oboss@gazettenet.com.