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'This Has Become Our Second Home': Western Mass Eatery Closing After 34-Year Run 'This Has Become Our Second Home': Western Mass Eatery Closing After 34-Year Run
'This Has Become Our Second Home': Western Mass Eatery Closing After 34-Year Run A family-run restaurant in Western Massachusetts has made the difficult decision to close after 34 years of service.  Fernandez Family Restaurant in Holyoke announced they will be officially closing their doors on Friday, July 22, the family said on Facebook.  The family thanked their loyal clientele for supporting them through "uncertain times" and said this was not an easy decision.  "This is a bittersweet time for us, as this has become our second home and to many that have walked through our doors, generation after generation," the family said. "Thank you for letting us …

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by David Cifarelli
Police & Fire
CT Man Nabbed For Harassing Woman While Impersonating MA Police Officer CT Man Nabbed For Harassing Woman While Impersonating MA Police Officer
CT Man Nabbed For Harassing Woman While Impersonating MA Police Officer A man from Connecticut is facing multiple charges after impersonating a police officer in a Western Massachusetts town, authorities said.  Police responded to a disturbance at 145 Cabot Street around 3:15 a.m. on Saturday, July 2, Holyoke Police said on Facebook. A male citizen told an officer about a man, later identified as Roberto Ruiz-Montanez, age 51, of Waterbury, who was bothering a woman outside the residence.  The woman said Ruiz-Montanez stopped approached her "in a threatening manner" and tried to get her into a back alley of Maple and Cabot streets, police s…

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by David Cifarelli
News
No Arrests Made After More Than 18 Shots Fired In Western Mass Neighborhood, Police Say No Arrests Made After More Than 18 Shots Fired In Western Mass Neighborhood, Police Say
No Arrests Made After More Than 18 Shots Fired In Western Mass Neighborhood, Police Say No arrests have been made after more than 18 shots were fired in a Western Massachusetts. The incident took place in Hampden County in Holyoke around 2 a.m. on Wednesday, June 15 in the area of lower Westfield Road. Holyoke Police received several calls of automatic gunfire in the area of dd, said Capt. Matthew Moriarty. Several Holyoke police units responded and secured and searched the area finding 18 spent casings in the roadway, Moriarty said. No injuries or property damage were reported. Earlier report: 18 Casings Found On Roadway After Shots-Fired Incident In Western M…

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by Kathy Reakes
Police & Fire
18 Casings Found On Roadway After Shots-Fired Incident In Western Mass 18 Casings Found On Roadway After Shots-Fired Incident In Western Mass
18 Casings Found On Roadway After Shots-Fired Incident In Western Mass Authorities in Western Massachusetts are looking for answers after multiple bullet casings were found on main road.  Police received several calls of automatic gunfire in Holyoke in the area of 85 Lower Westfield Road around 2 a.m. on Tuesday, June 15, Holyoke Police said.  Upon arrival, officers found 18 spend casings on the road. No injuries or property damage was initially reported, police said. The investigation is ongoing. Anyone with information is asked to contact police at (413)322-6900. Anonymous tips can also be sent in by texting a message to 274637. 

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by David Cifarelli
News
Western Mass Man Driving Recklessly Injures Deputy, Police Say Western Mass Man Driving Recklessly Injures Deputy, Police Say
Western Mass Man Driving Recklessly Injures Deputy, Police Say A Western Massachusetts man has been charged with assault with a dangerous weapon after injuring a sheriff's deputy while driving recklessly. The incident took place in Hampden County in Springfield around 11:45 a.m., Thursday, June 9. Police attempted to stop Tyler Scheurer, age 36 of Holyoke after he was spotted speeding on Birnie Avenue, said Ryan Walsh, spokesman for the Springfield Police. When the officer approached the vehicle Scheurer sped off just missing the officer. When the officer approached the driver again at a stop light the driver again sped away when the light turne…

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by Kathy Reakes
Police & Fire
Suspect Caught After Fleeing Scene Of Stolen Car Crash In Western Mass, Police Say Suspect Caught After Fleeing Scene Of Stolen Car Crash In Western Mass, Police Say
Suspect Caught After Fleeing Scene Of Stolen Car Crash In Western Mass, Police Say A suspect was arrested in Western Massachusetts following a pursuit in a stolen vehicle.  Shortly after 5 p.m. on Saturday, May 28, police in Hampshire County received an alert that Holyoke Police in Hampden County and Massachusetts State Police were involved in a pursuit with a stolen vehicle driven by a suspect accused of breaking and entering, according to the Hadley Police Department. Hadley PD officers attempted to deploy tire deflation devices and saw the suspect vehicle leave I-91 North at a high rate of speed and travel over the Coolidge Bridge into Hadley, police said.  …

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by Nicole Valinote
Police & Fire
Seen Him? Alert Issued For 25-Year-Old Who's Gone Missing In Western Mass Seen Him? Alert Issued For 25-Year-Old Who's Gone Missing In Western Mass
Seen Him? Alert Issued For 25-Year-Old Who's Gone Missing In Western Mass Law enforcement agencies in Western Massachusetts are seeking the public’s assistance in locating a missing 25-year-old man who has not been seen for days. In Hampden County, an alert was issued and photos were released of Kareem Diabate, who was last seen on Thursday, May 19 in Chicopee. According to the Chicopee Police Department, Diabate was last seen walking on Chicopee Street in the direction of Holyoke. Police described Diabate as being 6-foot-5 weighing approximately 180 pounds with brown eyes, and short black hair in a faded style. Diabate also has a cross tattoo on his forearm. …

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by Zak Failla
News
Western Mass Man Sentenced For Distributing Fentanyl Western Mass Man Sentenced For Distributing Fentanyl
Western Mass Man Sentenced For Distributing Fentanyl A Western Massachusetts man will spend years in prison after admitting to one of the largest drug trafficking activities in the region, including the distribution of fentanyl, federal prosecutors announced. Hampden County resident Carlos Morales, age 31, of Holyoke, was sentenced by US District Court Judge Mark G. Mastroianni to five years in prison followed by five years of supervised release, officials announced this week. In February, Morales pleaded guilty to possession with intent to distribute 400 grams or more of fentanyl. Prosecutors said that Morales distributed over 106,000 bags …

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by Zak Failla
Police & Fire
Man Accused Of Masturbating In Public Areas In Western Mass, Including In Front Of Child Man Accused Of Masturbating In Public Areas In Western Mass, Including In Front Of Child
Man Accused Of Masturbating In Public Areas In Western Mass, Including In Front Of Child A Western Massachusetts man has been arrested for allegedly openly masturbating on two occasions, once in front of a child. The incidents took place in Hampden County in West Springfield and Chicopee on Sunday, April 24, and on Tuesday, April 26. On Sunday, West Springfield officers responded to the area of the Connecticut Riverwalk and Bikeway behind Riverdale Shops Plaza for a report of a man in a state of partial nudity openly masturbating.  The suspect, identified as Lawrence "Larry" Disco, age 58, undomiciled, had fled into the wooded area near the riverbank when confronted by a …

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by Kathy Reakes
News
Trio Nabbed For Attempted Murder In Western Mass Trio Nabbed For Attempted Murder In Western Mass
Trio Nabbed For Attempted Murder In Western Mass Three Western Massachusetts men have been arrested in connection with an alleged attempted murder. The Hampden County incident took place in Holyoke around 10:10 p.m., Monday, March 21, with arrests taking place on Friday, April 8. Officer Matt Goulding was operating a marked cruiser on Cabot Street when he heard what he believed to be a gunshot, said Capt. Matthew F. Moriarty, of the Holyoke Police. The officer advised dispatch of possible shots fired and headed for the area he believed the shots came from. As he was driving a man staggered into the roadway and collapsed, Moriarty s…

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by Kathy Reakes
News
Chicopee Businessman Sentenced In Cocaine, Heroin Conspiracy Chicopee Businessman Sentenced In Cocaine, Heroin Conspiracy
Chicopee Businessman Sentenced In Cocaine, Heroin Conspiracy A Western Massachusetts businessman has been sentenced for his role in a large-scale cocaine and heroin conspiracy. Hampden County resident Jamil Roman, age 44, of Chicopee, was sentenced to seven months in prison, followed by three years of supervised release, including a three-month stretch of home confinement, after pleading guilty in November 2021 to drug-related charges. Specifically, Roman pleaded on Nov. 23, 2021, to conspiracy to distribute and possess with intent to distribute more than 500 grams of cocaine. Federal prosecutors said that on multiple occasions between January 2014 …

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by Zak Failla
Police & Fire
Know Her? Police Search For Woman Who Stole Worker's Purse At Holyoke Store Know Her? Police Search For Woman Who Stole Worker's Purse At Holyoke Store
Know Her? Police Search For Woman Who Stole Worker's Purse At Holyoke Store Police have asked the public for help locating a woman accused of stealing an employee's purse at a Western Massachusetts store. The woman went behind the cash register at the Hampden County store and took the purse on Sunday, March 6, in Holyoke, authorities said. According to the Holyoke Police Department, a man was with the woman at the store, but he wasn't present when the purse was stolen. Authorities did not identify the store where the incident took place.  Police asked anyone who recognizes the woman to call Detective Keith Williams at 413-322-6900 ext. 559.

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by Nicole Valinote