February Updates from the Spirit of Springfield

Celebrating Springfield's Biggest, Best and Brightest!

Bright Nights at Forest Park may be closed after a successful season, but the Spirit of Springfield and our colleagues at the Springfield Park Department are still hard at work. There are more than 400 displays to dismantle and put in storage. There is inventory to count, letters of thanks to write, data to analyze, and other unglamorous aspects of event wrap-up.

We are also looking ahead to another fun-filled year of activities and we hope you will take every opportunity to participate. After all, it is our mission to bring the community together in celebration.

-- Judy Matt

President

World's Largest Pancake Breakfast Date

The first rite of spring for Springfield is the World’s Largest Pancake Breakfast. It is returning to its rightful month of May in honor of Springfield’s founding, and will be held on the City’s 386th birthday, Saturday, May 14, 2022.

Main Street will be filled with family, friends, fun, and flapjacks from 8am to 11am. The activities will be from Tower Square to Court Square. There will even be some new components and supporters that will be announced soon.

Mark your calendar and get your appetite ready for some of the finest flapjacks served with the love and support of hundreds of volunteers.

Save the Date for Golf

The Spirit of Springfield has reserved Franconia Golf Course for Friday, June 3, 2022, for the Spirit of Springfield Golf Classic. It is a fun day on the course with friends and colleagues. It starts at 9am with the Mayor’s Cup Putting Contest, followed by the 10am shotgun start.

Lunch is served on the course. Every golfer goes home with a great souvenir and a $25 gift card to one of Springfield’s fine restaurants.

Put the date on your calendar and watch for more updates, or email nicole@spiritofspringfield.org to let her know you want to be on this year’s mailing list.

Bright Nights Season Pass

Season passes for Bright Nights at Forest Park 2022 are now available. The pass is good for every night during the season. If the line is short, pass holders can make a second trip through and count the deer in the Winter Woods display, sing different holiday songs, and make new memories.

The pass, with a starting price of just $45, will also include a coupon book full of savings for eats, treats, and attractions.

Buy yours today at brightnights.org.

Remembering Former State Representative Catjakis

The World’s Largest Pancake Breakfast got its start in 1976 when Springfield celebrated the United States bicentennial. As an aide in the office of Springfield Mayor William Sullivan, Athan “Soco” Catjakis led the breakfast charge. He supported the event when it returned in 1986 for Springfield’s 350th Anniversary under the direction of the Mayor’s Office of Community Affairs and its Commissioner, Judy Matt.

In 1990 when the Spirit of Springfield accepted the responsibility of presenting the annual flapjack feast, former State Representative Catjakis was honored and served as the Honorary Chairman. He returned 20 years later when Colonel Robert Swain Jr., commander of the Air Force Reserve's 439th Airlift Wing at Westover Air Reserve Base, was the Honorary Chairman.

Executive Chef Joins Board

The Spirit of Springfield is pleased to welcome MGM Springfield Executive Chef Chris Smigel to the Board of Directors. He has been working closely with the Spirit of Springfield since 2019 when the City of Bright Nights Ball was first held at the casino.

He brings years of culinary expertise, a commitment to the community, and a desire to become more engaged with the Spirit of Springfield, its audiences, and its supporters.

Chris is local to Western Mass and was born in Westfield. He is a graduate of Johnson & Wales University. He has had a variety of positions for Hyatt Regency hotels across the country, and was a member of the opening and development team for MGM Springfield.

In this Issue

World's Largest Pancake Breakfast Date

Save the Date for Golf

Bright Nights Season Pass

Remembering Former State Representative Catjakis

Executive Chef

Joins Board

Guest Column

Alexis Vallides

Armata's Market

Bright Nights

Online Store

Guest Column

Alexis Vallides

Armata's Market

As you all may know, Armata's suffered a devastating fire back on November 23. While my staff and I were left in complete shock at the aftermath, it was the support of the community that helped us to rally.

We are so thankful to all our faithful customers and friends who came together to show us their love of the store. Without their help we would not have made it through. I've heard the saying it takes a village--and boy did I learn just how true that statement is.

For that, we want to publicly thank this great community of Western Massachusetts, and we are committed to rebuilding back on Shaker Road. I also want to personally thank Judy Matt and the Spirit of Springfield for their support during these trying times. We look forward to working with the Spirit of Springfield just like we have for so many years to come.