
Wyben July 4 parade marshals cited as farmers, parents, neighbors
WESTFIELD — The Wyben Fourth of July Committee has announced that Annette and James “Jim” Bemis, “outstanding members of the Wyben community,” will be the 2024 grand marshals for this year’s parade. Sue Crane, a member of the parade committee, said the selection is well deserved.

Police pedal 300 miles in Unity Tour for fallen officer fund
In May, a team of five Western Massachusetts police officers honored all fallen cops — 23,785 throughout American history, according to the memorial fund — by pedaling more than 300 miles from northern New Jersey to the National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial in Washington, D.C.

Elks honor Agawam youth for patriotic essay contest win
WESTFIELD — Ava Skowron, a sixth grader at Doering School in Agawam, is one of two statewide winners of an annual Americanism essay contest to be sponsored by the Westfield-West Springfield Lodge of Elks.

Elks honor Russell teen for contest-winning patriotic essay
WESTFIELD — Makaylah Motyl thought she was in trouble when she was called to the principal’s office at Gateway Regional Middle School. Instead, she received a check as a winner in an essay contest sponsored by the local Elks lodge.