Use this search box to find articles that have run in our newspapers over the last several years.
Date: 2/14/2019
EAST LONGMEADOW – 2019 is a year of celebration for the town of East Longmeadow, as they are commemorating the town's 125th Anniversary.
Chairman of the 125th Anniversary Committee Ryan Quimby, who also serves as the IT director for the East Longmeadow Public Schools and Municipal Offices, shared with Reminder Publishing what the 13–person Committee has in store for the milestone year.
Prior to the new year, ELCAT Director Don Maki hosted a logo submission contest to create an emblem for the historic year. Five submissions were sent into the contest, and one was chosen, designed by resident Susan Maciorowski. Her design portrays a quarry worker stepping into the future.
“Everyone felt it was the best expression of where we are with the quarry man stepping through the seal from the past into the future, It’s a good looking seal. It also reflected the whole, how our government has changed,” Qimby explained.
Over the course of the year, various events will take place for residents to enjoy, come together and celebrate how far the town of East Longmeadow has come. The first event taking place on March 8 is a spaghetti dinner that the Committee is in the process of planning with the Knights of Columbus and the Greek Orthodox Church. This event will serve as a kickoff to help fundraise while simultaneously promoting the community.
In addition to the spaghetti dinner, the East Longmeadow Lions Club is bringing back the town’s fishing derby which was once an annual event put on by the Jaycee’s until the group disbanded in 2013.
The fishing derby will kick off East Longmeadow students’ spring vacation week, taking place on April 13 at Heritage Park Pond. In the past, Chair of the East Longmeadow Lions Club Albert Grimaldi explained to Reminder Publishing, over 500 children would line Heritage Park Pond in an effort to catch the biggest fish. Children from ages three to 14 are invited to Heritage Park Pond at 7 a.m. on April 13 to begin fishing.
There are four different age groups, ages three to five, six to eight, nine to 11 and 12 to 14. There will be prizes for first, second and third place in each age group for the largest fish caught. Currently, the Lions Club is looking for sponsors and donations to go toward the event. Specifically, they’re hoping local businesses and townspeople would be willing to donate age–appropriate prizes as well as monetary donations for the event. Monetary donations for the Fishing Derby can be sent to Sec. Scott Grabowski at 25 Greenacre Lane. East Longmeadow, MA 01116. Gifts and prizes for children can be dropped off to Lion Al Grimaldi at 48 Millbrook Dr. East Longmeadow.
Moving past April’s derby, Quimby shared that many of the events to come are centered around the towns Fourth of July celebration, which annually attracts hundreds of spectators.
“It’s a big time in town here. [There will be] the typical stuff, the Rotary Club concert with fireworks for the Fourth of July. The fireworks will hopefully be bigger this year, as well as the parade,” Quimby said.
In addition to the aforementioned events, the Lions Club is planning to host a fire hydrant painting contest along the parade route. Residents will be able to sign up to paint hydrants and there will be a contest for the most creative hydrant.
Finally, Quimby stated, the town is in the process of having coins minted for sale, there is a beer and wine tasting in the works, a vintage baseball game, sidewalk chalk painting, a golf tournament, and a Mayberry–sponsored car show.
“Things are still in the works,” Quimby shared.
Residents of East Longmeadow are encouraged to keep tabs on the 125th Celebration portion of the East Longmeadow town website, which can be found at https://www.eastlongmeadowma.gov/813/125th-Celebration. The website will be updated as more events are added over the course of the year.