Use this search box to find articles that have run in our newspapers over the last several years.
| By Erin O'Connor Staff Writer CHICOPEE Ray Rivera, a former Hampden County correctional officer of 12 years, is currently working with his rehabilitation-to-work crew on the finishing touches of stage one for the Boys and Girls Club's expansion project. The crew has been working on painting the 10,500 square-foot edition to the youth club that will serve as a gymnasium once completed. Members of Rivera's crew come from the Western Massachusetts Rehabilitation Center and the Day Reporting Center. The first is a rehab center for alcohol and drugs and the latter is a day reporting center for people nearing their sentences in jail. "I wanted to get back to the community and help guys to have a trade and find employment for when they get out of jail," Rivera said. Most of the restitution work that Ray and his crew do takes place in the Chicopee, Holyoke and Springfield areas. Work done in Westfield is in conjunction with the Westfield Housing Authority and Abilities Unlimited. Betsy Daly, the Club director, said cause for the expansion is due to a daily participation and membership increase of 90% in the last five years. "Kids need to come here," Daly said. "There are 1,000 kids in the neighborhood and with more kids there needs to be more activities." The official groundbreaking for the expansion process was in February 2006. Phase two will consist of renovating existing club space and will not begin until the fundraising is complete. |