TONIGHT Showers Likely. Low of 61 Search for The Westfield News The WestfieldNews Search for The Westfield News ‘A DESTRUCTION, Westfield350.com The Westfield News AN ANNIHILATION Serving Westfield, Southwick, and surrounding Hilltowns “TTHIMEA TIS ONLYTHE ONLY MA N CAN WEATHER CRITICPROVOKE WITHOUT, ONLY TONIGHT MAN AMBITIONCAN PREVENT.” .’ Partly Cloudy. JOHN STEINBECK Search for— The Eli EWestfield WIESE LNews Westfield350.comWestfield350.orgLow of 55. Thewww.thewestfieldnews.com WestfieldNews Serving Westfield, Southwick, and surrounding Hilltowns “TIME IS THE ONLY WEATHERVOL. 86 NO. 151 TUESDAY, JUNE 27, 2017 75CRITIC centsWITHOUT VOL. 88 NO. 142 TUESDAY, JUNE 18, 2019 75 Cents TONIGHT AMBITION.” Partly Cloudy. JOHN STEINBECK Low of 55. www.thewestfieldnews.com VOL.Police 86 NO. 151 Commission promotesTUESDAY, JUNE new27, 2017 sergeant, lieutenant 75 cents By PETER CURRIER Florek to the rank of sergeant. Florek and his police vest that takes the weight of the heavy has the experience.” Correspondent fellow candidates were asked just one ques- police vests off the officers backs. Florek pre- Following the interviews, the commission- WESTFIELD — The Police Commission tion by commissioner Leonard Osowski. He sented the idea to Chief John Camerota and ers deferred to Chief Camerota for his recom- Monday promoted officers to sergeant and asked them why they believe they would be those vests are used today, saving the depart- mendation on who to promote. Camerota, who provisional lieutenant following a series of the best fit to take the rank of sergeant. ment possibly thousands of dollars, according is retiring on Friday, chose to not comment, public interviews. Florek answered by citing his education and to Florek. saying that it was time for him to take a step The commission first voted to promote a military experience. He has his Maste’rs Florek has been a member of the Westfield back and let the current leaders choose the sergeant from a pool of three candidates, degree and was a member of the Coast Guard’s Police Department for 12 years on top of his future of the department. Capt. Michael which were officers William Cavanaugh, Seth law enforcement division for four years. In four years in the Coast Guard. McCabe, Lt. Jerome Pitoniak and Capt. Florek, and Sean Smith. After the interviews, 2013, Florek suffered a back injury. He chose “There’s no substitute for experience,” said the commission chose to promote officer to do some research and found a load-bearing Florek, “You need to have a supervisor that See Commission, Page 3 Police, city officials say goodbye to Camerota By PETER CURRIER Correspondent WESTFIELD — Members of the Police Commission and other city officials said their public goodbyes to Police Chief John Camerota during the Police Commission meeting Monday, which was the final one of Camerota’s career. Following the bulk of the meeting, but before the commission adjourned, Commissioner Leonard Osowski read a goodbye letter to Camerota, who is retiring position Friday after more than two decades as chief. Bombers sweep into finals “For over 22 years, we have had The Westfield Bombers celebrate a Game One victory against the Newton North some good times and some stressful times. He was a great friend, always Tigers Monday at Westborough High School. See story and photos in today’s Sports Current Police Chief John Camerota (left) with Section. (Photo by Chris Putz) See Camerota, Page 3 newly selected Police Chief Lawrence Valliere. (Photo by Peter Currier) Celebrate the summer School Committee solstice Friday with art votes to fund and music in Westfield Highland Elementary By AMY PORTER School playground Correspondent By AMY PORTER WESTFIELD — On Friday, June 21, celebrate the summer Correspondent solstice – the longest day of the year – by making it a “Friday WESTFIELD – Highland Elementary School Night Out” in downtown Westfield to experience art, live music, students from kindergarten to fourth grade got dining, refreshments and shopping, all within walking distance a lesson in the benefits of civic engagement along Elm Street. after pleading their case to the School ArtWalk Westfield, a free Committee for a new playground on Monday. art and cultural experience Principal Mary Claire Manning showed pho- that takes place each month tos of the existing playground’s broken asphalt in downtown Westfield, will and equipment, and the one they would like to feature a unique mix of local build, before having the students explain why a and regional artists on new playground was important to them. Friday evening from 5 to 7 Third grader Jack Donnelly began by saying p.m. in pop-up art galleries that the PTO, families and the entire commu- located in the Gaslight nity worked hard to raise money for the new Gallery District along Elm playground. He was then followed by a dozen Street between Church and other students, who spoke about the importance School streets. of getting time outside to be happier and Immediately following ArtWalk, the Downtown See Highland Playground, Page 3 Live! Friday Night concert series kicks off the summer season with a performance by the Berkshire Mountain Boys from 7 to 9 p.m. at 53 Elm St. next to Mina’s Wine Abigail Gawron, one of the and Spirits. ArtWalk featured street artists this Both ArtWalk Westfield Friday, paints her utility box 350 and the Downtown Live! mural earlier this year. (Photo sub- Friday Night concerts are mitted) free to the public. June ArtWalk Westfield will feature a mix of local and regional artists along with several live demonstrations, including one of the utility box muralists featured during the Westfield 350th birthday weekend. Abigail Gawron, a Westfield-based artist inspired primarily by City Cup Champs! her love for flowers and color, will be one of the featured street Advance Manufacturing hoists the Dan Welch City Cup artists. Gawron painted the utility box mural located in front of after defeating Cortina Tile 10-5 Monday night at Bullens Stop & Shop on Main Street. This Friday’s ArtWalk will be her Rebecca Hart and Amanda Bruno are spear- Field. See story and photos Page 11. (Photo by Marc St.Onge) gallery debut, where she will display her mixed-media work in heading efforts to raise $100,000 for a new playground at Highland Elementary School. See Art and Music, Page 7 (Photo submitted) PAGE 2 - TUESDAY, JUNE 18, 2019 WWW.THEWESTFIELDNEWS.COM THE WESTFIELD NEWS Bar Association has new president The Hampden County Bar Association (HCBA) held its Annual Meeting, Vendor Show and Dinner on Thursday, June 6 at the Tower Rotary presents scholarships Square Hotel, Springfield where Attorney Kathleen A. Cavanaugh was Emily Butler and Abby Goyette receive scholarships June 17 from Westfield Rotary President sworn in as president of the Hamden County Bar Association for Justin Glaze during a luncheon at Genesis Spiritual Life Center. Not pictured, recipient the 2019-2020 year by Westfield District Court Judge Philip A. Madison Porter. (Photo by Hope E. Tremblay) Contant. ODDS & ENDS LOCAL LOTTERY LAST NIGHT’s numBERS Unicyclist MASSACHUSETTS WEDNESDAY THURSDAY Lucky For Life TONIGHT 03-25-29-40-47, Lucky Ball: 8 MassCash completes 02-03-13-19-35 Mega Millions 180-mile Trek Estimated jackpot: $50 million Numbers Evening 7-9-5-1 Chance of Showers. Showers, t-storms likely Across Maine Numbers Midday BRUNSWICK, Maine (AP) — 5-2-4-4 Thousands have ridden their bicycles in Powerball 72-76 72-77 the three-day Trek Across Maine. But only Estimated jackpot: $92 million Today, Showers, with thunderstorms also possible one participant has accomplished the feat after 1pm. High near 72.Tonight: Showers likely, on a single wheel. Showers Likely mainly before 9pm. Patchy fog with a low around Hugh Sharp from Cape Elizabeth, 61. Wednesday: A slight chance of showers after 1pm. Mostly cloudy, with a high near 80. Wednes- Maine, rode 180 miles (290 kilometers) on day Night: chance of showers. Mostly cloudy, with a a unicycle in the annual fundraiser for the CONNECTICUT low around 62. Thursday: A chance of showers, with American Lung Association, which ended Cash 5 61-62 thunderstorms also possible after 3pm. High near 77. Sunday. His pace was slower than the 03-09-19-21-26 other cyclists, so he had to pedal longer. Lucky For Life The nurse anesthetist at Maine Medical 03-25-29-40-47, Lucky Ball: 8 WWLP.COM • Working For You Center was pedaling in honor of his father, Lucky Links Day who died two years ago from chronic 03-09-10-14-16-18-21-22 TODAY obstructive pulmonary disease. The race Lucky Links Night ended on Father’s Day. 01-03-07-10-13-16-18-19 Play3 Day 7-3-2 5:15 AM 8:29 PM Riders started and ended in Brunswick, 15 hours 14 Minutes Maine, with overnight stops at Bates Play3 Night 7-4-8 SUNRISE SUNSET LENGTH OF DAY College in Lewiston, Maine, and Colby Play4 Day 5-1-0-3 College in Waterville, Maine. Play4 Night 4-1-5-4 TODAY IN HISTORY TODAY IS TUESDAY, JUNE 18, THE 169TH DAY OF 2019. THERE ARE 196 DAYS LEFT IN THE YEAR. n June 18, 1979, President Jimmy Carter and Native Americans” and should be stripped of trademark Soviet President Leonid I. Brezhnev signed the In 1983, astronaut Sally K. Ride became America’s first protection. Clayton Kershaw pitched his first no-hitter as SALT II strategic arms limitation treaty in Vienna. woman in space as she and four colleagues blasted off the Los Angeles Dodgers defeated the Colorado Rockies O aboard the space shuttle Challenger on a six-day mis- 8-0. ON THIS DATE: sion. In 1778, American forces entered Philadelphia as the ONE YEAR AGO: British withdrew during the Revolutionary War.