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Date: 12/28/2020
WEST SPRINGFIELD – The annual Mayoral Luncheon for Agawam and West Springfield will take place on Feb. 25, 2021, from 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m.
The event is being conducted by the West of the River Chamber (WRC) of Commerce Board of Directors and will take place at Storrowton Tavern & Carriage House in West Springfield. Residents also have an option to participate in the lunch virtually. To do that, people are asked to pick up their lunch-to-go at Storrowton between 2 and 5 p.m. on Feb. 24, 2021.
According to the WRC website, Mayor William Sapelli of Agawam and Mayor William Reichelt of West Springfield will speak during the lunch about updates in their respective cities. A question and answer period will immediately follow their presentations.
Robin Wozniak, executive director at the WRC for West Springfield and Agawam, told Reminder Publishing that both mayors will most likely provide information on specific projects that are coming through the pipeline for 2021.
“And then they’ll both talk about collaborative things that are happening – like the Morgan-Sullivan Bridge,” said Wozniak. “They’ll update us on that because it’s on the edge of West Springfield and Agawam.”
COVID-19 restrictions and regulations will also be discussed during the luncheon, according to Wozniak, since most cities in the state have different guidelines for restaurants and other businesses.
“And then we’ll do the Q&A, which is always a great opportunity for the small business people to ask questions that they may not be able to ask on a regular basis,” said Wozniak.
Originally, the WRC was thinking of doing an all-virtual event for the luncheon, but Wozniak decided that this would be a perfect opportunity to experiment with a hybrid formula.
“If people feel safe in coming out and joining us in person, they will have their temperature checked upon arrival,” said Wozniak. “Seating will be spaced out appropriately.”
If people do not feel comfortable in person, then WRC and Storrowton will have a camera set up, and a zoom link available for those who want to watch at home.
“With everything that is going on, I feel that it is very important to continue these opportunities for our members,” said Wozniak. “They need to be updated legislatively and mayorly on what’s going on.”
As of right now, Wozniak is unsure about attendance limits, as numbers and guidelines will most likely fluctuate by February. She said that the WRC also needs to figure out how much space they will have at Storrowton for the luncheon.
In the meantime, businesses and other residents can register online at this link: https://business.ourwrc.com/events/details/mayoral-luncheon-2021-162. The price for the luncheon is $35 for members of the WRC and $45 for non-members.
The WRC is currently trying to find different ways to gain revenue as small businesses continue to struggle, and events have been nonexistent. The hybrid model will be integral to the WRC’s success in the future, according to Wozniak.
“People don’t realize, the chambers of commerce are struggling,” said Wozniak. “Our main source of income is membership dues and events. And we’re not having events and businesses are struggling.”