Polisena to make good on Fire Bowl bet, wash Lombardi’s vehicle

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Area residents should expect traffic delays sometime around 10 a.m. Saturday at the always-busy intersection of Hartford and Atwood avenues in Johnston.

That’s where Mayor Joseph Polisena will make good on a bet he made last November with his long-time friend and colleague, North Providence Mayor Charles Lombardi.

Because the towns of Johnston and North Providence had been working closely in a number of areas, especially the now state-of-the-art shooting range at Johnston police headquarters, firefighters in both communities decided to hold the first-ever Fire Bowl and raise awareness and money for the Tri-Town Community Action Agency.

Thus, Polisena and Lombardi made the friendly wager that the loser has to wash the other mayor’s official town vehicle.

While the game generated upwards of $1,500 in donations – and hundreds of fans filled the stands at Johnston’s new athletic complex, as well as the back end of a Johnston Fire Department rescue with canned goods and other non-perishable food items – the North Providence Fire Fighters Local 2334 eked out a thrilling 7-0 victory over Johnston’s Local 1950, and that meant Polisena lost the wager.

On Saturday morning, he will wash Lombardi’s North Providence vehicle in public.

“Back before the game, Joe was chirping about how his team would win and even trying to intimidate my guys,” Lombardi mused. “I hope Joe remembers I used to own a car wash, so he’d better be on top of his game Saturday.”

“Unfortunately, I lost the bet and will make good on it Saturday,” Polisena said with a smile. “Remember now, we turned out to be the perfect host for Fire Bowl 2014.”

After which Lombardi countered: “But Joe, my guys won the trophy!”

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