GazetteNET - News and Information from Northampton, MA by the Daily Hampshire Gazette

US kills al-Qaida-linked militant in Pakistan

AP Wire — Fri, 10 Feb 2012 05:00:00 -0500

DERA ISMAIL KHAN, Pakistan (AP) - A U.S. drone fired two missiles at a house in Pakistan's northwest tribal region today, killing five suspected militants, intelligence officials said. The Taliban identified one of them as a prominent commander who has served as a key link to al-Qaida.

Editorial: Spoil sports

Daily Hampshire Gazette — Fri, 10 Feb 2012 05:00:00 -0500

When crowds of students gather outside the Southwest residential area at the University of Massachusetts, the potential for violence, injury and property damage is always present.

Facebook's Mark Zuckerberg: Innovator, entrepreneur ... hacker?

AP Wire — Fri, 10 Feb 2012 05:00:00 -0500

Facebook's billionaire CEO Mark Zuckerberg calls himself a hacker.

For most people, that word means something malicious - shady criminals who listen in on private voicemails or anonymous villains who cripple websites and break into email accounts.

From a single room, a 200-year-old house in Westhampton still fits families

Daily Hampshire Gazette — Fri, 10 Feb 2012 05:00:00 -0500

Standing silently for more than 200 years, a house in Westhampton has been witness to the joys and tragedies of many families. It has heard the laughter of children, the music of pump organ and guitar, and the voices of adults raised in anger and in jubilation.

Farmer Timothy Phelps built his Colonial-style house in 1796.

Mass. to get $318M, keep 2 claims open

AP Wire — Fri, 10 Feb 2012 05:00:00 -0500

BOSTON - Massachusetts will receive nearly $318 million from a national settlement announced Thursday with mortgage lenders over abusive foreclosure practices, Attorney General Martha Coakley said.

Michael Bresnahan, worked at Monsanto

Daily Hampshire Gazette — Fri, 10 Feb 2012 05:00:00 -0500

AMHERST - W. Michael Bresnahan, 73, of Northampton, died Wednesday, Feb. 8, 2012, in Hospice of the Fisher Home in Amherst.

He was born June 28, 1938, in Holyoke, the son of the late John and Marcella Pariseau Bresnahan.

Massachusetts among 10 states to get waiver from No Child Left Behind requirements

AP Wire — Fri, 10 Feb 2012 05:00:00 -0500

WASHINGTON (AP) - President Barack Obama today will free 10 states from the strict and sweeping requirements of the No Child Left Behind law, giving leeway to states that promise to improve how they prepare and evaluate students, The Associated Press has learned.

Column: Jim Hannifan's hard road to Relay

Daily Hampshire Gazette — Fri, 10 Feb 2012 05:00:00 -0500

NORTHAMPTON - Jim Hannifan has three reasons to Relay. Three more than anyone should have. Hannifan lost both of his parents to cancer, and he lost his wife, Donna Reed, to the disease as well, in February 2009.

Get Growing: The five 'S's

sherrywilson — Fri, 10 Feb 2012 05:00:00 -0500

A year ago gardeners were stir-crazy, praying the snow would disappear by planting season in April.

This February, despite a mild winter without snow up to the windowsills, we are just as eager for spring. That was evident last Saturday when about 25 people turned out for a lecture on big yields from small spaces by Master Gardener George Kingston of East Longmeadow.

Humanitarian crisis deepens in Syrian city of Homs

AP Wire — Fri, 10 Feb 2012 05:00:00 -0500

BEIRUT (AP) - Between blasts of rockets and mortar fire, Syrians used loudspeakers to call for blood donations and medical supplies Thursday in the stricken city of Homs, where a weeklong government offensive has created a deepening humanitarian crisis.

Dorothy R. Laselle service

Daily Hampshire Gazette — Fri, 10 Feb 2012 05:00:00 -0500

EASTHAMPTON - Dorothy R. Laselle of Lyman Street passed away Jan. 31, 2012. A funeral service will be held Saturday at 11 a.m. at the Boucher-O'Brien Funeral Home, 7 Pleasant St., Easthampton. There are no calling hours. Donations may be made to the Junior Fishing Derby, Easthampton Rod & Gun Club, P.O. Box 407, Easthampton, MA 01027.

John Paradis: Remembering Kevin White

Daily Hampshire Gazette — Fri, 10 Feb 2012 05:00:00 -0500

NORTHAMPTON - No one individual has had as much influence on the social, physical and economic shape of the city of Boston as Kevin Hagen White.

Leaving 'No Child' law: Obama lets 10 states flee

AP Wire — Fri, 10 Feb 2012 05:00:00 -0500

WASHINGTON (AP) - It could be the beginning of the end for No Child Left Behind.

The goal was lofty: Get all children up to par in math and reading by 2014. But the nation isn't getting there, and now some states are getting out.

Priest sounds alarm on parish consolidations

AP Wire — Fri, 10 Feb 2012 05:00:00 -0500

BOSTON - The Boston Archdiocese's proposal to cut costs by organizing its 290 parishes into 125 groups that share resources could crush its pastors, who now face a bleak future after sustaining the church through the abuse scandal, a veteran priest wrote in a letter to Cardinal Sean O'Malley obtained by The Associated Press.

Kia J. Bowman service

Daily Hampshire Gazette — Fri, 10 Feb 2012 05:00:00 -0500

GREENFIELD - Kia Jean Bowman, wife of Annie Lane Clarke and daughter of Dr. Shahab Momtazi and Barbara Bowman, died Saturday, Jan. 28, 2012, at Stanford Medical Center in Palo Alto, Calif., after a brave battle with lymphoma. A celebration of Kia's life will be held Saturday, Feb. 11, at 2 p.m. at the Second Congregational Church in Greenfield.

Drying out your home, Part II

Daily Hampshire Gazette — Fri, 10 Feb 2012 05:00:00 -0500

In a recent column, a newly minted Jersey Shore homeowner asked for help making his damp abode drier.

He said he'd been told that building code mandated that the vapor barrier be up against the floor over the crawl space, but the 2-year-old solid oak flooring was beginning to curl because of moisture.

MGM to gauge support for casino in Brimfield

AP Wire — Fri, 10 Feb 2012 05:00:00 -0500

BRIMFIELD (AP) - A major Las Vegas casino company says it wants to get a sense from Brimfield residents if they back a resort-style casino in town.

MGM Resorts International said Thursday it has filed a petition to have a non-binding casino question put on the May 21 town meeting warrant.

In the dead of winter, a fresh cinnamon roll is exactly what you need

Daily Hampshire Gazette — Fri, 10 Feb 2012 05:00:00 -0500

Two words: cinnamon roll.

OK, that was almost too easy. Yet today, while you're on the treadmill or balancing your checkbook, or changing lanes or reading a bedtime story, you will be thinking of having a cinnamon roll, ideally within the week. Maybe sooner.

Such is the power of suggestion, especially when the suggested object is gooey and spicy and soft and sweet all at once.

Mexican army finds 15 tons of pure meth

AP Wire — Fri, 10 Feb 2012 05:00:00 -0500

GUADALAJARA, Mexico - Mexican troops have made a historic seizure of 15 tons of pure methamphetamine in the western state of Jalisco, an amount equivalent to half of all meth seizures worldwide in 2009.

Celebrate the queen's birthday with one of her favorite recipes

Daily Hampshire Gazette — Fri, 10 Feb 2012 05:00:00 -0500

By Bill Daley Chicago Tribune

On Monday Queen Elizabeth II marked 60 years on the throne. And soon loyal subjects around the world will be raising a glass to toast Britain's second-longest reigning monarch as she and the royal family kick off a year of celebration.