Gertrude Zagrodnik, left, of Northampton, who turns 102 next month, chats with fellow Polish Heritage Committee member Bob Gibowicz and his wife, Tessie, after a brief ceremony in front of Memorial Hall in Northampton on Tuesday to mark Polish-American Heritage Month. Zagrodnik accompanied her daughter, Charlene Zagrodnik, to the event but opted to stay out of the rain and watch from the car as the group raised the Polish and American flags.
Gertrude Zagrodnik, left, of Northampton, who turns 102 next month, chats with fellow Polish Heritage Committee member Bob Gibowicz and his wife, Tessie, after a brief ceremony in front of Memorial Hall in Northampton on Tuesday to mark Polish-American Heritage Month. Zagrodnik accompanied her daughter, Charlene Zagrodnik, to the event but opted to stay out of the rain and watch from the car as the group raised the Polish and American flags. Credit: —STAFF PHOTO/KEVIN GUTTING

NORTHAMPTON – In an October tradition in the city, members and friends of the Polish Heritage Committee recognized the 40th anniversary of Polish-American Heritage Month by raising the Polish and American flags outside Memorial Hall on Tuesday afternoon. Amid a light rain, Bob Gibowicz and Chris Majewski assisted Mayor David Narkewicz in raising the flags after which Narkewicz, who has grandparents who are Polish immigrants, read a proclamation from Governor Baker’s office noting the past and continuing contributions of Polish-American citizens. The red and white colors will continue flying for the month of October.

Kevin Gutting can be reached at kgutting@gazettenet.com.