Westfield Remembers a Day of Infamy by PETER CURRIER 11Th Attacks in 2001
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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 TUESDAY, JUNE 27, 2017 75 cents $1.00 TUESDAY, DECEMBER 10, 2019 VOL. 88 NO. 291 Westfield remembers a Day of Infamy By PETER CURRIER 11th attacks in 2001. Wojkiewicz was one of mony. Staff Writer “We will never forget the 1,172 crewmen on the Arizona State Rep. and U.S. Army WESTFIELD- The anniver- 2,403 people and service who were killed. The ship Major John C. Velis gave sary of the Pearl Harbor attack members who lost their lives remains at the seabed of the remarks during the ceremony, was recognized Dec. 7 in a that day and the additional harbor to this day. emphasizing that people ceremony organized by 1,178 that were wounded in Wojkiewicz was the first should still remember Pearl American Legion Post 124 at the Japanese sneak attack on resident of Westfield to be Harbor as they remember 9/11. the Kane-Wojkiewicz Park on Pearl Harbor on Sunday, killed in action during the sec- “People, for whatever rea- Elm Street. December 7th, 1941,” said ond world war. son, are no longer remember- The ceremony marked the Cindy LaCoste, Past Representing the ing this day. He [Robert 78th anniversary of the trage- Commander of Post 124. Wojkiewicz family during the Greenleaf] talked about how dy. In particular, the ceremony ceremony was his surviving he was at a high school track City and state officials, resi- recognized the sacrifice of first cousin Stephen one day and he asked a student dents, members of Post 124, Westfield resident Frank Wichrowski. Wichrowski was about Pearl Harbor,” said Velis, and some veterans braved the Wojkiewicz, who was killed given the honor of casting a “The young woman respond- Joe Delaney, Officer of the Day, presents arms Dec. 7, 2019 bitter cold at the small park by during the “Day of Infamy” memorial wreath into the ed: ‘Who is that? I don’t know as the rifle squad from American Legion Post 124 fire their the bridges on Elm Street to onboard the USS Arizona, waters of the Westfield River her’.” rifles before taps. (Photo by Don Wielgus) remember the events that which was sunk that day when below. Before his passing two Velis closed by echoing forced the United State’s a Japanese bomb fell into and years ago, local Pearl Harbor Greenleaf’s words: “Study his- declare war against the involved in the European involvement in World War II. detonated a powder magazine, Veteran Robert Greenleaf had tory.” Japanese, kicking off the Theater against the Nazis until It was the deadliest attack on causing the ship to be quickly been the one to throw the The Pearl Harbor attacks Pacific Theater of World War June 6th, 1944 during the U.S. soil until the September torn in half. wreath during the annual cere- quickly prompted the U.S. to Two. The U.S. would not get D-Day invasion of France. No evidence of a gun found in Walmart disturbance By HOPE At approximately 6:20 in the parking lot, however him she heard the gunshot. As of Dec. 9, investigating accompanied by females. E. TREMBLAY p.m. Saturday, police received no rounds have been recov- The incident began inside detectives had found no evi- Hall said police are still Assistant Managing Editor multiple calls of a distur- ered.” the store and continued in the dence that a gun was used, investigating the incident and WESTFIELD – Westfield bance between two Hispanic A man at the scene said he parking lot where witnesses and no witness saw a gun. are not releasing the names of Police continue to investigate men at the store. According pulled into the Walmart park- saw a knife drawn by one of Witnesses did report hearing the involved parties at this a report of possible gunfire at to a statement issued that ing lot and saw numerous the men. Both parties fled a “pop” while the men were time. West Springfield and Walmart Dec. 7, however, night by Lt. Eric Hall, “there before police arrived. Police fighting in the parking lot, Holyoke Police are assisting there appears to be no evi- was alleged to be a knife and police cars and the store had report that Walmart was on which quickly dispersed a been evacuated. He said a in the investigation and dence to support the claim of possibly a handgun involved lock-down during the distur- crowd that had formed around arrests are expected. a gun at the scene. with reports of one shot fired woman at the bus stop told bance. the men, who were both Acting Westfield Mayor prepares for transition By AMY PORTER department. Chief Financial Officer Ronald Now, with new tariffs and a col- issues. They are also inviting Staff Writer At the first meeting was R. Rix to the vote by the lapsing market for recyclables state legislators to the meeting, WESTFIELD- After a week Department of Public Works Massachusetts School Building in China, it’s going to cost the which will be run by Billips. bustling with holiday events Director David Billips and Authority (MSBA) on whether city money to recycle. “We need some help at the state and appearances throughout the Systems Engineer Heather to go forward with the feasibil- The new three-year contract, level,” Figy said. city, Acting Mayor Ralph J. Stayton. Figy and Humason ity study for the Franklin which beings in January, will Most of the holiday festivities Figy is now focusing on the also had a briefing with City Avenue Elementary School cost the city $150 per ton to get at which the mayor-elect is transition in City Hall for Solicitor Susan Phillips on cur- project. All three are looking rid of recyclables, and may cost expected to represent were Mayor-Elect Donald. F. rent issues. forward to a positive vote. the city an estimated $400,000 hosted last week, ending with Humason, Jr. “It’s important to know who Figy is also arranging for a to $500,000 a year, according to the Lantern Parade and Lighting Figy and Humason met on is working for the Mmayor, and brainstorming meeting on Dec. the DPW director, Figy said. He of the Tree. “Hopefully, it’s Dec. 5, and plan to meet five what they do,” Figy said, add- 20 with mayors from surround- said he wants them to explore going to slow down a little. It more times with all of the ing, “I am trying to have a ing communities to discuss all the options before the was a wild week last week,” department heads in the city. smooth transition.” issues around recycling. Mayor-Elect signs the contract. Figy said, adding he will be Figy said the goal is to have On Dec. 11, Figy plans to Figy said when the city first The city is inviting mayors representing the city at First each department explain to the accompany Westfield Public started recycling, they made from Agawam, Chicopee, mayor-elect what it is they do, Schools Superintendent Stefan money on it. More recently, Holyoke and West Springfield Night at the Boys and Girls ACTING MAYOR and who everybody is in their Czaporowski and Schools they’ve just about broken even. to Westfield to discuss the Club. RALPH J. FIGY City celebrates the season with Lantern Light Parade and tree lighting By PETER CURRIER gave families the chance to tural religious music. He Islamic Center for Human they first began, prompting a Staff Writer make lanterns for the eve- noted that even the lanterns Excellence in West Springfield change in the route of the WESTFIELD- Westfield on ning’s Lantern Light Parade. themselves are a symbol in were represented in the parade to make room for more Weekends (WOW) had the With the holiday season multiple cultures, as they are parade. people. bulk of its annual playing host to major celebra- used in ceremonies in many There was one more oppor- “We began it 16 years ago DecemberFest Dec. 7-8, tions in multiple religions, different countries. tunity later on for people to with a group of 10 to 15 people which culminated in the annu- Plasse said that he wanted the Even the parade and cele- create lantern lights for the in costumes and with bag- al Mayor’s Tree Lighting cer- parade to reflect as many cul- brations themselves were parade. At 5:30 on Saturday at pipes,” said Plasse, “Last year emony Saturday evening. tures as possible. made all-inclusive by WOW, St. John’s Lutheran Church, we had about 500 people, which The festivities on Saturday “We feel that this is a time with Rev. Nancy Stroud of the another lantern assembly took we expect this year as well.” began in the morning with a of year where everybody cel- Episcopal Church of place for those wishing to Westfield’s volunteer Lantern Light Family ebrates,” said Plasse. Atonement, Cantor Colman participate in the parade. Auxiliary Police were honored Workshop at Westfield Middle During the workshop, Reaboi of the Ahavas Achim Plasse noted that the during the parade for their fre- School. Hosted by WOW’s Plasse made a point of playing Jewish Congregation, and Lantern Light Parade is much quent work in assisting with Bob Plasse, the workshop multinational and multicul- Imam Rasul Seifullah of the bigger than it had been when WOW events.