June News from the Spirit of Springfield

Celebrating Springfield's Biggest, Best and Brightest!

Thank you to everyone who joined us on May 13th for the World’s Largest Pancake Breakfast! It was one of the largest crowds that we have had in years. The volunteers rose to the occasion filling plates with pancakes and bacon, and cups with coffee, juice, and milk. The team from Gleason Johndrow Landscaping kept the supply chain moving, and our Honorary Chair, Springfield Police Superintendent Cheryl Clapprood, did an amazing job serving as the morning’s ambassador.

There is more to come as we prepare for a Star Spangled Springfield on Tuesday, July 4th.

-- Judy Matt

President

World's Largest Pancake Breakfast

On Saturday, May 13th, the crowds came out for the World’s Largest Pancake Breakfast, sponsored by MGM Springfield, and they brought their appetites. Volunteers worked hard to keep up with the demand and the lines that stretched from one block to the next. Springfield Police Superintendent Cheryl Clapprood, the 2023 Honorary Chair, made sure to thank each of them, and she climbed the ladder to direct the SciTech Band. She was also serenaded by the St. Michael’s Academy Chorus.

In addition to enjoying a hot hearty breakfast, there was lots to do and see. The Springfield Police and Fire Departments had equipment on display. There was a fishing demonstration by the Massachusetts Division of Fisheries and Wildlife. Cabot was sampling cheese, and Dunkin had coffee and munchkins. There were dancers and singers too.

It was a perfect day to celebrate Springfield’s 387th birthday!

See more photos!

Pancake Breakfast Award Winners

It has been a tradition to honor volunteers for their service and the hours they spend supporting the World’s Largest Pancake Breakfast. This year, Golden Spatula Awards and Pancake Breakfast Chef Awards were presented to many deserving organizations.

MGM Springfield’s Culinary Bacon Team, Community Bank, Vox Church, and Mercy Medical Center’s Printing Services were honored with Golden Spatula Awards.

Pancake Breakfast Chef Awards were presented to Mercy Medical Center’s culinary team, Springfield Area Transit Company (SATCO), the U. S. Postal Service, and Zito from Mix 93.1FM.

Spirit of Springfield Golf Classic

Golfers will be teeing up at Franconia Golf Course on Friday, June 2nd to support the Spirit of Springfield. They will be putting and driving from 10am until they play their 18th hole. They will watch Springfield Mayor Domenic Sarno show off his putting skills when he is challenged by Agawam Mayor William Sapelli, Westfield Mayor Michael McCabe, and West Springfield Mayor William Reichelt. The winner will take home the coveted Mayor’s Cup, sponsored by Charlie Arment Trucking.

Golfers will have a chance to win a Bum Drum and $25,000 for a hole-in-one compliments of Gleason Johndrow Landscaping. There will be contests for Closest to the Pin and Longest Drive.

There will be lunch on the course, sponsored by the Springfield Thunderbirds Foundation, and a $25 gift certificate to enjoy dinner at one of Springfield’s many fine restaurants, courtesy of the Springfield Business Improvement District.

Community Spirit Sponsors for the event include American Medical Response, Gleason Johndrow Landscaping, MassLive, Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame, Springfield Business Improvement District, and the Western Mass Economic Development Council.

Star Spangled Springfield to Sparkle

Springfield will celebrate Independence Day in its traditional style which includes patriotism and pyrotechnics to make for a Star Spangled Springfield. On Tuesday, July 4th, Riverfront Park will be filled with activities and excitement as visitors anxiously await the spectacular fireworks display at 9:30pm. To keep them entertained, there will be children’s activities, a performance by Union Jack, a 60’s music British tribute band, food vendors, and more.

The Fireworks by Grucci will show-off their pyrotechnic wizardry from the Memorial Bridge. It will be enhanced by a musical broadcast in Riverfront Park and on Mix 93.1 FM.

In addition to MassMutual which has been sponsoring the event since 2006, support is provided by the Springfield Fire, Police, Parks, Public Works, and Facilities Departments, American Medical Response, MassLive, Mix 93.1 FM, The Republican, WWLP-22News, 90 Meat Outlet, Charlie Arment Trucking, Elegant Affairs, Michael’s Party Rentals, Quality Beverage, Sheraton Springfield, and more.

Blue Jackets Make Them Official

To make it official, the Spirit of Springfield’s newest board members were presented with their official Spirit of Springfield jackets.

Mercedes Maskalik, Vice President for Marketing and External Affairs for Western New England University, was presented her jacket by Spirit of Springfield Board Chair, John Sjoberg, President of New England Business Machine.

Dr. Robert Roose, Chief Administrative Officer for Mercy Medical Center, received his from Spirit of Springfield President Judy Matt while he assisted the culinary team with a batch of batter for the World’s Largest Pancake Breakfast.

Chris Marion Photography Opening

Spirit of Springfield President Judy Matt and Senior Program Coordinator Nicole Antonmarchi were on hand to witness the ribbon cutting for Chris Marion’s studio in the Gasoline Alley complex in Springfield.

Chris has been photographing Spirit of Springfield events for many years, and calls the organization his “favorite client” and his list of clients includes the NBA, MGM Springfield, and many other notables.

Congratulations Deputy Akers

The Springfield Police Department has a new Deputy Chief. His name is Lawrence Akers. He is a 37-year veteran of the department. He followed in his father’s footsteps when he became a police officer. He is a longtime resident of Springfield, recipient of the Springfield Veterans Activities Committee’s J. Frank Murphy Medal of Valor, and the first supervisor of the Gaming Enforcement Unit.

The Spirit of Springfield has had the pleasure of working with Deputy Akers over the years. Most recently, he oversaw the public safety at last year’s Independence Day festivities. He was recently seen saluting Superintendent Clapprood as she was honored by the Springfield Honor Guard at the World’s Largest Pancake Breakfast.

In this Issue

World's Largest

Pancake Breakfast

Award Winners

Spirit of Springfield

Golf Classic

Star Spangled

Springfield to Sparkle

Blue Jackets

Make Them Official

Chris Marion Photography Opening

Congratulations

Deputy Akers

Guest Column

Mary Kay Wydra

Greater Springfield Convention

& Visitors Bureau

Bright Nights Season Pass

Guest Column

Mary Kay Wydra

President, Greater Springfield Convention & Visitors Bureau

What a busy spring it’s already been for Springfield's visitor scene…and there’s still much more to come in June!

Right on the heels of the Spirit of Springfield’s crazy-successful Pancake Breakfast, we’re prepping to welcome 1,500 top athletes from around the globe. They'll be participating in the first-ever IRONMAN 70.3 Western Mass on June 11. These elite competitors will begin their day at 6am by jumping into the Connecticut River for a 1.2 mile swim (at least it's downstream!). Next, it's a hop onto their bikes at Riverfront Park for a 56 mile-pedal across the South End Bridge and out through the rolling hills of Agawam, Southwick, Granville, West Springfield and Springfield. Finally, they'll run13.1 miles through West Springfield and Springfield and cross the finish line right in front of Springfield City Hall. The MassMutual Center will host the associated IRONMAN Village and we expect lots of these athletes' friends and family to be in our downtown keeping our local restaurants busy.

That same weekend, Grammy-winning artist Bruno Mars plays two shows at the MassMutual Center arena. Talk about 24 Karat Magic!

And there's still more - just two weeks later, the Eastern States Exposition and the Naismith Basketball Hall of Fame host Hooplandia, a 3-on-3 team basketball tournament. Now here's an event with gigantic potential; we envision it growing to rival Spokane’s Hoopfest, which pulls in an astonishing quarter-million players, volunteers and fans annually.

This takes us right up to the Spirit of Springfield’s Star Spangled Springfield, the premier Independence Day celebration in the region. This mix of tried and true with exciting new events, makes Western Mass an ideal visitor destination.

CALENDAR OF EVENTS

2023

Spirit of Springfield Golf Classic

Friday, June 2nd

9:30am Mayor's Cup

10am Shotgun Start

Franconia Golf Course