City plans huge celebration for 375th anniversary

Date: 5/2/2011

May 2, 2011

By G. Michael Dobbs

Managing Editor

SPRINGFIELD — A pancake breakfast, a parade, a chorus performance and fireworks — that's a dramatic day of events to celebrate the 375th founding of the city and, according to city officials, it's only the start.

Spirit of Springfield President Judith Matt outlined the events on May 14 at a press event last week at City Hall.

"May 14 is going to be a spectacular day," Matt said.

Mayor Domenic Sarno said the anniversary efforts reflect "the true fabric of the city of Springfield working together."

Sarno asked the city's residents to be ambassadors for their community spreading the good news about Springfield.

Matt emphasized that many area businesses, organizations, educational institutions and individuals are making the events possible through providing donations and volunteers. Among those supporting the anniversary are the city of Springfield, Massachusetts National Guard, MassMutual Financial Group and volunteers from the MassMutual Achievers, Big Y World Class Markets, Springfield Business Improvement District (BID), Berkshire Bank, Peoples United Bank and others.

Among those volunteers were students from the Culinary Arts program at Putnam Vocational Technical High School, who baked a birthday cake for the press event. The students are also contributing 3,000 cupcakes for the festivities on May 14.

The day's activities will include:

• The 26th annual World's Largest Pancake Breakfast will be presented from 8 to 11 a.m. on Main Street. Sponsored by the Springfield BID, the menu features pancakes, milk and juice, coffee and Carando Classic Italian bacon. Matt said that 60,000 free breakfast tickets would be distributed in the city.

• At 9:30 a.m., students from Springfield Public Schools will perform the "Springfield Song," the "Pancake Song" and some patriotic favorites in a concert at the City Hall Esplanade. The schools represented in the chorus will be the Alice B. Beal School, Edward P. Boland School, Chestnut Accelerated Middle School, Frank H. Freedman School, Frederick Harris School, Mary O. Pottenger School, Van Sickle Middle School and Warner School.

• From 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., the Springfield Museums will host a variety of activities, including a scavenger hunt, a performance of traditional songs and music of the Pioneer Valley, an early American art activity, visits from a Civil War Soldier and "Cat in the Hat."

• The Springfield's 375th Parade will start at 11 a.m. from Springfield Technical Community College. Congressman Richard E. Neal and Sarno will lead the procession down State Street, past the reviewing stand at the Federal Court House, to Main Street and Mill Street. Matt said between 1,500 and 3,000 people would be marching in the parade. Among the performing groups will be the 215th Army Band, the Melha Shriners, Belchertown Twirlers, Quaboag Highlanders Pipes & Drums, Springfield Central High School Band, the Springfield Kiltie Band and more.

• From 1 to 5 p.m., the Springfield Armory will host Armory Day, with events that include reenactments, demonstrations and firings. One of the highlights of the afternoon will be demonstrations by the 2nd Continental Dragoons Cavalry.

• At 5 p.m. there will be "Blessings for Springfield," an interfaith service hosted by St. Michael's Cathedral, which is celebrating its 150th anniversary on State Street. Participants will include Monsignor Christopher Connelly, Vicar General at St. Michael's Cathedral, Rabbi Jerome Gurland from Western New England University, Dr. Calvin Jerome McFadden Sr. from St. John's Congregational Church and Deacon Angel Perez.

• The Pride of Springfield, the 100-member jazz band of the High School of Science and Technology, will perform from 7:30 to 9 p.m. at Blunt Park. Following the concert there will be fireworks sponsored by Big Y World Class markets, which is celebrating its 75th anniversary. A musical simulcast will be broadcast on ROCK102.

Matt said the rest of the year would have other events.

"There is so much more to come," she noted.

Donald D'Amour, president of Big Y Foods, revealed that one of those events would be a special concert, "God Bless America," by the Springfield Symphony Orchestra sponsored by his company on Sept. 9.

For more information on the city's anniversary activities, log onto http://springfield375.org.