The Westfield NewsSearch for The Westfield News Westfield350.com The WestfieldNews Serving Westfield, Southwick, and surrounding Hilltowns “TIME IS THE ONLY WEATHER CRITIC WITHOUT TONIGHT AMBITION.” Partly Cloudy. JOHN STEINBECK Low of 55. www.thewestfieldnews.com VOL. 86 NO. 151 $1.00 MONDAY,TUESDAY, JULY JUNE 26,27, 20172021 VOL. 75 cents 90 NO. 176 Community Service Unit under new leadership following Bard’s retirement By PETER CURRIER Staff Writer WESTFIELD — The Westfield Police Community Service Unit is under new leadership following the retirement of Lt. Kevin Bard earlier this month. Madison Curbelo works in the studio of Ghost Hit Police Chief Lawrence P. Valliere Recording in West Springfield with Andrew Oedel. said July 23 that Lt. Eric Hall would Madison Curbelo launches her first single, “My Baby take over the CSU after Bard’s July (ELIZABETH CURBELO PHOTO) Mine,” on Aug. 7. (SUBMITTED ARTWORK) 9 retirement. Lt. Scott Phelon, who was promoted from sergeant in January, will now lead the Westfield Detective Bureau. The Community Service Unit Curbelo set to release was formed in 1994 as the Community Policing Department. The unit places five officers in five specific geographic areas in first original single Westfield’s core downtown. Bard WESTFIELD POLICE LT. KEVIN BARD See Bard, 5 By LORI SZEPELAK number 7 has always been her Correspondent lucky number. WESTFIELD — Madison “I was playing around with a lot Curbelo is “excited” to launch her of possible dates but I was initially first original single, “My Baby nervous about putting the song Mine,” on Aug. 7. out,” she said. “I wanted it to be “I wrote the song earlier this the best reflection of myself and An eclectic stop for year not thinking much about it,” my music that it could be so it said Curbelo, who is a student at took a little while to get there. the Berklee College of Music and Once it was done I was so excited a graduate of Westfield High that I looked at the calendar and Westfield shoppers School. Madison Curbelo records a take Aug. 7 was just the date that drew “The song came to me very fast of the lead vocals in her first me in so I figured this was the By ISABEL MARCHESELLI and it was a really fun writing original single, “My Baby Mine” perfect date to put the song out.” Correspondent process because of how natural it at Ghost Hit Recording in West Curbelo said “My Baby Mine” WESTFIELD – The Blended felt,” she said, adding, “I had no Springfield. (ELIZABETH will be available on Spotify, Apple Vintage Marketplace at 48 Elm St. idea that it would be my first sin- CURBELO PHOTO) Music, and “everywhere else” one in downtown Westfield is an eclectic gle, but once I teamed up with can stream music. curiosity shop where shoppers can producer Billy Lefler from that you see them in all the things “I want to have a livestream the feast their eyes on items that all California, I knew that it would be you love. day the song drops to get everyone seem to have an appeal of their own. something special.” “I wanted the song to mimic excited,” she said. “I’m also going This store, run by artist Andrea Curbelo first reached out to some of the things that myself, to have a small gathering with my Bruno and her husband, features a Andrew Oedel, owner of Ghost and the people I love in my real family to celebrate this because collection of 26 different artisan Hit Recording in West Springfield. life, enjoy like ‘the starry skies at my first single is a really big deal. creations. In her shop, one can find Oedel also serves as a recording the beach at night,’ or ‘large milk- They have all been so supportive furniture, crafts, curios, one-of-a- and mix engineer at the studio. shake I get with my fries,’” she and I am so lucky to have them in kind clothing, imported crocheted “Andrew directed me to Billy said. my corner through all of this.” items, jewelry, handbags, and other and that’s when we dived into ‘My Curbelo noted the references While Curbelo gears up for her crafted items. Although her store is Baby Mine,’” said Curbelo. she makes in her song are “per- release date, she is also continuing listed online as an antique store, “Andrew had been so helpful dur- sonal yet so universal to every- to write songs, perform, and focus Bruno says that it doesn’t sell ing the process and he let me go one.” her studies at Berklee. antiques. into Ghost Hit Recording to “I wanted the song to be some- “I also hope to put together an “I guess there isn’t a category for Andrea Bruno painting furniture record. It was such a positive thing that anyone can dedicate to EP soon of music that I am really an eclectic shop like ours,” she said. at her shop, Blended Vintage experience and I am so glad that I someone special in their lives, passionate about,” she said. Stylistically, Bruno describes her Marketplace. (PHOTO SUBMITTED) went there.” regardless of who they are,” she All in all, Curbelo said she is shop as having a bohemian flair Curbelo first put the song said. dedicating herself to her music. “with a touch of farmhouse style.” and bell-bottom jeans that have been together remotely with Lefler and While Curbelo had written “I’m a little nervous,” she said. Added lately to her collection are added to the inventory. On the Oedel. The team worked over songs about break ups or “less “I really loved this song and the particularly colorful, bohemian store’s website, shoppers can shop email, Zoom, and FaceTime, upbeat material,” she knew her process that I went through to clothes. Another new item is a red, for a rotating array of items includ- bouncing ideas off of each other first single was destined to be make it, so I hope everyone white and blue canvas of the ing furniture paints, bags, dresses, and figuring out what worked and uplifting and positive. receives it well and feels the hard American flag, sized 20×40, on a decoupage papers, cupcake bites “made them excited.” “I had written other songs but work that I put into it. But overall, gallery wrapped canvas. and other treats, and they can even “Once we had the instrumental they just weren’t setting the tone I’m excited! This is really my Bruno brings new pieces into her schedule their paint jar parties at her down, I headed to Ghost Hit that I wanted my music to have,” introduction to the world via orig- collection, in part, as given to her by store where patrons can work on bell Recording with Andrew and she said. “After Billy and I played inal music and I can’t wait for people who don’t want to put these jars, do -ityourself vases, and everything happened so fast and around with what I wanted and everyone that knows me, and the items on the curb for a truck to take gnomes. Additionally, Andrea also easy,” she said. “I believe it only other ideas he came up with, the people who don’t, to see what I’ve away. What she says that she loves sells her own art which she calls took an hour to record a few takes finished product is everything I been up to these past couple of about these pieces is the background “my funky art” painted in vibrant of the lead vocals and we were could have imagined and more. months.” of every piece. and intense colors. both very confident in the finished This is a song that I am so proud Viewers can also follow Curbelo “Each and every one of them has To find out more information and product.” of and can’t wait to share with the on her Facebook page for the lat- a story to tell,” Bruno said. plan your visit, visit her store’s web- Curbelo explained the song is world.” est updates on her music and per- These days, Bruno is excited site at: https:// blendedvintagemar- about loving someone so much Curbelo chose Aug. 7 since the formance schedule. about the new furniture transfers ketplace.com Fire chiefs want to put a damper on sparkler bill By HOPE E. TREMBLAY firework injuries to children younger than 5, Protection Agency reported $105 million in officers to seize any illicit fireworks,” wrote Editor according to the Consumer Product Safety direct property damage in 2018, a year in State House News reporter Katie Lannan, BOSTON – While fireworks are illegal in Commission. Need we say more?” which about 19,500 fires started by fireworks who noted that bills to legalize sparklers have the Commonwealth unless fired by profes- Southwick Fire Chief Russ Anderson, who were reported to local fire departments across been filed for years on Beacon Hill. The sionals, two bills before the Public Safety and serves as the District 11 representative to the the country. Public Safety Committee last session endorsed Homeland Security Committee would let Fire Chiefs Association of Massachusetts – “Last year 15,000 people were treated in a version of Moore’s bill in June 2020, and it Massachusetts residents set off sparklers. which includes Westfield – also said he hospital emergency rooms across the country died in the Senate Rules Committee. Last week, the committee heard testimony opposes the bills. due to fireworks, a 50% increase in death and In a July 2 press release reminding people on bills (S 1615, H 2476) from Millbury “While we haven’t had a recent call, in the injuries from fireworks — 17% caused by that fireworks are illegal, the state Department Democrat Sen.