Use this search box to find articles that have run in our newspapers over the last several years.

Downtown Block Party to put spotlight on the city

Date: 8/21/2015

CHICOPEE – A new civic event will throw the spotlight on downtown Chicopee on Sept. 12.

Mayor Richard Kos announced on Aug. 14 the city would present a Downtown Block Party from noon to 10 p.m. on Sept. 12.

“It will be celebrating some of the best of Chicopee,” Kos said at the announcement. He added the purpose behind the event is to show that opportunities and features of the city’s downtown.

The event will be free, and people are asked to bring their own chairs or blanket. No pets, coolers or outside alcohol will be allowed.

The event will features performances by legendary local rockers FAT, Chicopee’s own The Varlets, Livio Gravini and the Free Spirit Society, the Hu Ke Lau Polynesian Show and Kenny Stearley and the Lifepoint Church Band.

A number of Chicopee restaurants, such as Minch Haus, Masse’s American Bistro, Quicky’s, Doogan’s Deli, Milano’s and Bernat’s will be offering food, along with other vendors such as Munchy Mobile, Rondeau’s Ice Cream, Gotta Q and more. Joel McAuliffe, communications and special projects manager for Kos, said at the time of the announcement there were more than 15 food vendors committed to come.

City Councilor Shane Brooks said he hopes the event will replicate the success of the city’s Halloween and Christmas events that are presented downtown.

Parts of Exchange, Center and Springfield Streets will be closed for the events.

The block party was initially underwritten by a state grant of $7,500, made available to Gateway Cities such as Chicopee for “placemaking” events, explained Director of Planning Leo Pouliot.

“It’s [the grant] to start a conversation for a low investment,” he added.

In this case, the conversation is about what is already in the downtown area but the opportunities for new businesses there.

Other businesses are also sponsoring the events and McAuliffe noted that MedExpress, a new medical business in the city contributed $5,000. Chicopee Savings contributed $2,500, MassMutual Financial Group, $1,500, Lifepoint Church, $1,000 as well as Tsubaki and Sunshine Village, Jasin Advertising and Chicopee Municipal Employees Credit Union each contributed $500.

Eileen Drumm, president of the Greater Chicopee Chamber of Commerce, noted there are two new businesses in downtown and there are other opportunities available.

“We thrilled to partner with the city,” she said.

Also part of the 20-person committee organizing is Robert Liswell, an organizer for Chicopee Fest of All.  He said, “It is great this embrace the challenge” and noted Fest of All had an eight-year run before it ended two years ago.

Kos said the party was scheduled so it would not conflict with the run of this year’s Big E.

For more information, go to http://chicopeeblockparty.blogspot.com.