August News from the Spirit of Springfield

Celebrating Springfield's Biggest, Best and Brightest!

Thank you to everyone who supported and joined us for a Star Spangled Springfield! It was a spectacular evening with friends, families, and neighbors coming together to celebrate our city, our community, and our country on Independence Day.

Thank you to MassMutual and all the sponsors, those that spent their holiday working so we could enjoy the Independence Day festivities, to Springfield Mayor Domenic Sarno and to Congressman Richard Neal for speaking with Amtrak to have the State Street railroad crossing into Riverfront Park open for the festivities.

We hope you enjoyed the music, the food, the fireworks, and all the fun!

-- Judy Matt

President

Star Spangled Success

Star Spangled Springfield was an explosive success. Riverfront Park was overflowing with area residents eager to enjoy the Independence Day festivities sponsored by MassMutual. They dined on hamburgers, hot dogs, and washed it down with some ice cream. They sat back and enjoyed the nostalgic music performed by the Union Jack Band.

The highlight of the evening were the fireworks. The colors were brilliant. The patterns were magnificent. The team from Fireworks by Grucci did an incredible job with the display and how it was choreographed to music played in the park and on Mix 93.1FM.

In addition to MassMutual and Key Bank, Star Spangled Springfield is supported by 90 Meat Outlet, Affordable Waste Solutions, American Medical Response (AMR), Amtrak, Balise, Charlie Arment Trucking, Elegant Affairs, iHeart Media, Lamar, Joseph Freedman Company, MassLive, MGM Springfield, Michael’s Party Rentals, Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame, Quality Beverage, Republic Services, Sheraton Springfield, Springfield Parking Authority, The Republican, WWLP-22News, and the City of Springfield’s police, fire, public works, parks, facilities, and water departments.

See more photos!

City of Bright Nights Ball Tasting

MGM Springfield has put together a scrumptious menu for the 2023 City of Bright Nights Ball, sponsored by Western New England University. The distinguished panel of tasters included Margaret Boyle from Western New England University, Michael “Bax” Baxendale from Rock102’s Morning Show, Jason Alves, a seasoned member of tasting panel, along with Spirit of Springfield President Judy Matt, Spirit of Springfield Board Chair John Sjoberg, Attorney Bo Sjoberg, and members of MGM Springfield’s culinary team lead by Chris Smigel, Executive Director of Hospitality and Spirit of Springfield Board member. They sampled the appetizers, first course, main course, and dessert. They all gave rave reviews with some minor recommendations.

The main course options for the November 11th gala will include braised short rib with gold potatoes, bordelaise sauce, and watercress salad; gruyere crusted halibut with peeled asparagus, leek fondue and spinach sauce; and striped and yellow beet napoleon with carrot puree, smoked pepita romesco, and polenta cakes.

The dinner will be finished with a decadent and delicious treacle chocolate bomb.

Bon appetite!

Fenway or Bust!

At the 2022 City of Bright Nights Ball, Springfield Mayor Sarno and Chris Kelley, MGM Springfield President, auctioned off MGM Springfield’s box at Fenway Park for a 2023 Boston Red Sox home game with transportation by King Gray Coachlines. There was a bidding war.

Much to Mayor Sarno’s surprise and the bidders delight, Chris sold three trips to the Fenway with the proceeds going to the Spirit of Springfield. Two of the winners, Charlie Arment from Charlie Arment Trucking and Tony Gleason from Gleason Johndrow Landscaping raved, about the experience, with the third, Dan Moriarty from Monson Savings Bank, looking forward to his trip in August.

MGM Springfield’s Fenway Park box will be just one of the great live auction items at the 2023 City of Bright Nights Ball.

If you are interested in donating a live or silent auction, contact amy@spiritofspringfield.org.

September 11th Remembrance Ceremony

The Spirit of Springfield, with the Springfield Fire and Police Departments, will be hosting the annual September 11th Remembrance Ceremony on Monday, September 11th at 10am in front of the monument in Riverfront Park.

The program is a tribute to the first responders who lost their lives on September 11th and whose names are on the monument’s bronze wall. They include firefighters, emergency medical services, police officers, members of the military, and some personnel that the World Trade Center deemed first responders.

Be sure to put this important date on your calendar.

Bright Nights and Brighter Lights Coming Soon!

Plans to make Bright Nights at Forest Park bigger and brighter for the 29th season are in process. There will be new attractions in Santa’s Magical Forest including photos with Santa, s’mores, and a grand carousel from November 22nd to January 1st.

The dates have been set for Supper with Santa at the Barney Carriage House. It will be a great way to treat the true believers to a very special dinner with the big man in the red suit. The dinners will be served on Sunday, December 3rd, Friday, December 8th, and Sunday, December 10th. Bright Nights Loyalty Card members get one free child’s ticket free with the purchase of one adult ticket.

That is just one of the many perks available with a Bright Nights Loyalty Card.

Learn more about Supper with Santa, Bright Nights Loyalty Card, and more at brightnights.org.

Basketball City

Basketball was invented in Springfield, Massachusetts. Every year, the legends return and new ones are made when the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame hosts the Enshrinement Ceremony.

This year, the festivities are taking place on August 12th, instead of the weekend after Labor Day, at 8pm in Springfield Symphony Hall. They will be inducting Dwayne Wade, Gregg Popovich, Tony Parker, the 1976 U. S. Women’s Olympic team, and several others who will be presented by Hall of Famers like John Calipari, Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, Allen Iverson, Sheryl Swoopes, and other notables.

The Spirit of Springfield was pleased to coordinate many past enshrinement ceremonies.

For more information, visit hoophall.com.

Congrats to NEBM!

We are wishing a happy 45th anniversary to John Sjoberg and New England Business Machine (NEBM). They have been serving the Western Massachusetts business community for office machine needs with everything from typewriter ribbons to state-of-the-art large print management systems.

This includes copiers, fax machines, and a fancy new copier that John, Spirit of Springfield Board Chair, has been donating to the Spirit of Springfield since we moved into their first office in 1991.

John and his wife, Brenda Garton-Sjoberg, a professor at Western New England University, have also been instrumental in the City of Bright Nights Ball live auction.

In this Issue

Star Spangled Success

City of Bright Nights Ball Tasting

Fenway or Bust!

Springfield's September 11th Ceremony

Bright Nights and Brighter Lights

Coming Soon!

Basketball City

Congrats to NEBM

Guest Column

John Doleva

Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame

Bright Nights Loyalty Card

Guest Column

John Doleva

President & CEO

Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame

The Naismith Basketball Hall of Fame is feverishly preparing for what is likely to be the largest and most successful Enshrinement Ceremony in our 64 year history. On Saturday August 12th Springfield’s Symphony Hall will be the site for an internationally broadcast celebration that will induct eleven individuals and one team into the Hall as our Class of 2023. Our long time relationship with the incredible staff at the Spirit of Springfield under the watchful eye of Judy Matt makes sure the Hall of Fame always puts our best foot forward with this event in Springfield’s downtown!!

Five players, six coaches (including the 42 year coach of nearby Amherst College!), and one team will be added to the already recognized over 400 members of the Hall that represent greatness and remind the world that one of the world’s most popular games was invented in Springfield back in 1891 by James Naismith. Our Class of 2023 embodies the wide diversity of the game and maintains the vision of Dr. Naismith who said ‘this game should be played by and enjoyed by all.’ Little did he know his ‘simple game’ launched in Springfield would one day become a cultural phenomenon in almost every country on earth. Our Hall of Fame and Museum honors and celebrates him and his incredible invention by presenting The World’s Finest Sports Museum!!

Link to our full Class of 2023.

Link to our Schedule of Events