January Updates from the Spirit of Springfield

Celebrating Springfield's Biggest, Best and Brightest!

Hello 2022! It is sure to be a great year. We have grand plans for all of our events, from the World’s Largest Pancake Breakfast in May to the 28th season of Bright Nights at Forest Park in November. There will be fireworks on July 4th, a gala in November, and it is our mission to see the Cat in the Hat return for the Parade of the Big Balloons.

We look forward to celebrating all year with you!

Wishing you a happy, healthy, and joyful new year!

-- Judy Matt

President

Bright Nights Season in Review

It was another busy season at Bright Nights at Forest Park. Santa’s Magical Forest was also a hot spot for activity. The new displays leading to it, funded in part by a grant from the Massachusetts Office of Travel and Tourism, helped to make the area more visible. Visitors knew there were snacks, gifts, and rides when they took the left into the parking lot.

Bright Nights at Forest Park also saw a renewed interest in interactive activities that included Supper with Santa and the horse-drawn wagon and carriage rides. People were eager to get out of their cars and enjoy the cool winter nights and festive atmosphere.

Thank you to all who made Bright Nights at Forest Park a successful season, from the sponsors to the staff in Santa’s Magical Forest, from the volunteers who brought you ELF Radio and the web cameras to the elves at the entrance, the Springfield Department of Publics Works, Springfield Police Officers and Hampden County Sheriff’s for traffic control, and most of all, the team from the Springfield Park Department who install, maintain and dismantle the magnificent lighting displays with great care.

Front Line Workers Honored

Bright Nights at Forest Park gave the gift of a Bright Nights visit to the front line workers who continue to make sacrifices during the COVID-19 pandemic. On Sunday, January 2^nd, hundreds of families of healthcare, childcare, delivery and transportation services, grocery store, pharmacy workers, and more enjoyed the lights.

They were greeted by Spirit of Springfield President Judy Matt, Spirit of Springfield Board Chair John Sjoberg and wife Brenda Garton, representatives from Baystate Health Kathy Tobin (Spirit of Springfield Vice Chair), Samantha Kennedy, and Denise Schoen, and representing Mercy Medical Center was Paul Mancinone along with wife and daughter, and Billy Cargill, and Springfield Fire Commissioner B.J. Calvi, who wanted to say “thank you.”

Looking Ahead to 2022

The Spirit of Springfield is ready to launch into 2022 with a year filled with activities. While some are still in the early planning stages, dates have been set for many. We will start off the warm-weather activities with the World’s Largest Pancake Breakfast on Saturday, May 14th, and will continue with the Spirit of Springfield Golf Classic and Mayor’s Cup on Friday, June 3rd along with Star Spangled Springfield on Monday, July 4th.

Be sure to mark these dates on your calendar and watch for updates and announcements as the Spirit of Springfield rolls into 2022!

Passing of Past Board Chair

Arlene Putnam was a long time supporter of the Spirit of Springfield, and many other non-profit organizations. She joined the board in 2005, served as its Chair from from 2007 to 2010, and remained an active member through 2015.

When the World's Largest Pancake Breakfast needed a temporary home in 2005 and 2006, she and her team at the Eastfield Mall welcomed the event and the Spirit of Springfield.

She passed away December 17, 2021, in Florida, with her husband, Harvey Wasserman, by her side.

There will be a celebration of life in Arlene's honor at American Legion Post 80 in Enfield, Connecticut, on Sunday, January 23rd at 2pm.

In this Issue

Bright Nights Season

in Review

Front Line Workers Honored

Looking Ahead to 2022

Passing of Past

Board Chair

Guest Column

Mayor Domenic J. Sarno

Bright Nights

Online Store

Guest Column

Mayor Domenic J. Sarno

City of Springfield

First off, I want to wish everyone a Happy and Healthy New Year!

2021 was a better year, thanks in large part to the lifesaving vaccine that is now readily available. However, it still wasn’t without its challenges. Our dedicated and proud city team, starting with our illustrious Health and Human Services Commissioner Helen Caulton-Harris continue to work with all of our community partners in making the vaccine and booster shots available for everyone. In addition, we have made available for our residents free rapid COVID-19 at-home test kits so that families can get peace of mind in the comfort of their homes.

My administration, which is tested and true through a number of natural and man-made disasters, continues to work for our residents and business community. As we begin this new year and the hope that 2022 brings, I am committed to keeping you informed on the latest COVID-19 updates and doing what is in the best interest for our residents and businesses as we continue to balance the need for public health and safety while keeping our local economy open and moving forward. We will get through these challenges together and come out stronger as we have done countless times in the past.

I want to thank my staff and all of our dedicated city workers, from cabinet heads to our rank and file, who day in and day out have kept the City of Springfield open for business. I would also be remiss if I did not mention the great and heartwarming efforts from Judy Matt and her dedicated team and Board of Directors at the Spirit of Springfield. Thanks to them and all of the sponsors, we were able to hold some of our most beloved celebrations in the city, such as the treasured Bright Nights in Forest Park which is once again recognized as the largest holiday light show in New England.

As we continue to work together toward the goal of re-establishing a safe and healthy environment

I want to encourage everyone to get vaccinated and their booster shot. This is about public health, plain and simple, not politics, conspiracy theories or misinformation on social media, which has never stopped or cured a medical challenge. Vaccines work! Please get and review the proven facts.

As we rise to this challenge, I look forward to celebrating the enduring spirit of our Springfield when this situation is behind us and we are able to gather and reflect on the strength and resiliency of our Springfield community once again.