November 27, 2020 ❙ Vol
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LOCAL NEWS. LOCAL STORIES. LOCAL ADVERTISERS. SINCE 1998. Chicopee Register A TURLEY PUBLICATION ❙ www.turley.com November 27, 2020 ❙ Vol. 22, No.36 ❙ FREE www.chicopeeregister.turley.com COMMUNITY Support local stores on Small Business Saturday, Nov. 28 By Dalton Zbierski Staff Writer CHICOPEE – Chicopee business owners are preparing Have a safe and for one of the most important days of their year. Small Busi- healthy holiday ness Saturday falls on Nov. 28, and residents have an opportu- nity to pay it forward by sup- For the rail, Dalton said he up- porting local establishments. - Small Business Saturday - falls annually on the Saturday after Thanksgiving, the day The other can be: Thanksgiving after Black Friday, which is historically one of the busi- est shopping days of the year. Since its establishment in 2010, Small Business Saturday shines a spotlight on a variety CITY of local shops. This year, Small Business Contaminants Saturday carries additional significance. Local business The Greater Chicopee Chamber of Commerce is encouraging residents to support a local store, shop or found at Park owners have been battling the restaurant on Nov. 28, Small Business Saturday. COVID-19 pandemic and fall- See Page 2 ing sales, and Nov. 28 is much she plans to do all of her the products. They’re the ones well-being of the community. anticipated. Christmas shopping in Chi- calling in the inventory every Copoulos explained that the “In a year like this, it’s so copee. As co-founder of Small week and the ones who want success or failure of a local important for us to get out into Oven Bakery in Easthampton, to make sure that you have a business can impact more than our communities and spend Copoulos is well aware that lo- good experience. It’s personal just an owner. our dollars locally. Small busi- cal business owners are work- to them and it matters to their “When I think about what nesses are really relying on ing incredibly hard to keep families that you’re a happy that money goes to support, I us,” said Julie Copoulos, Pres- their operations afloat. consumer and that you’re tak- think about supporting local ident of the Greater Chicopee “When you go to a smaller en care of,” said Copoulos. families and think about mak- Chamber of Commerce. mom-and-pop shop, you have When local businesses Copoulos divulged that somebody who’s invested in all thrive, they contribute to the See BUSINESS page 11 ERIC CARLE Picture book COMMUNITY HEALTH & WELLNESS art for the family City celebrates Puerto Rican Vieau addresses ‘tidal wave’ See Page 5 Heritage Month in ceremony of COVID-19 infections By Dalton Zbierski For the first time, the Staff Writer Puerto Rican flag now CHICOPEE – Chicop- flies in front of City Hall ee Mayor John Vieau recog- nizes the growing risk that By Dalton Zbierski COVID-19 poses to city res- Staff Writer idents. Over the last couple weeks, he’s taken advantage CHICOPEE – From 1948 of public appearances to warn to 1957, the Puerto Rico Gag residents of the very real threat Law made it illegal to own or of COVID-19. display Puerto Rican flag in “It’s very important that the United States of Ameri- we talk about COVID-19. I’d ca. Possessing a Puerto Rican like to have this opportunity to flag was punishable by a 10- get that message out to you,” year prison sentence and/or a said Vieau during his Nov. $10,000 fine. SPORTS 17 Mayor’s Briefing. “When While celebrating Puerto More than 60 years have Cultural Council Chairman you listen to the national passed since the law was re- Johnny Miranda emigrated Rican Heritage Month on Nov. Pacers fall news, I heard that in a week, 23, Mayor John Vieau urged pealed and the U.S. now from Puerto Rico before finding there were over a million new to Lions recognizes each November success in Chicopee. He led residents to stay home while COVID cases. That’s just cra- also sharing several positive as “Puerto Rican Heritage a celebration of Puerto Rican zy. With the [coronavirus], See Page 7 Month.” A groundbreaking Heritage Month in front of City developments pertinent to a they’re using words like, ‘ex- COVID-19 vaccine. ceremony outside of City Hall Hall on Nov. 23. ploding,’ and they’re calling on Nov. 23 was symbolic of it a, ‘third wave,’ or a, ‘tidal the progress that has been time in Chicopee’s history,” recovered, according to the said Mayor John Vieau on wave of infection.’” Nov. 23 report. INDEX made over the decades. On Nov. 23, state officials “There have been a lot Monday afternoon. “Here in the City of Chi- Opinion 4 Numerous local politi- reported that 1,252 Chicopee of moments this year that we copee, I can let you know that Sports 7 cal figures with Puerto Rican residents have tested positive right now, we have the most won’t necessarily want to re- for COVID-19 since the pan- member, but this is a day that roots partook in the Nov. 23 cases we’ve ever had,” said Classifieds 10 celebration. Springfield City demic began. As of Monday, Vieau on Nov. 17. Public Notices 9 we can all be really proud of. there were 424 active cases. Today, in honor of Puerto Ri- Councilor Orlando Ramos, Earlier this month, Vieau who will soon be sworn in as Nineteen residents have announced that the city has can Heritage Month, we have succumbed to the novel coro- SEND US YOUR NEWS! the Puerto Rican flag flying navirus this year and 735 have high above our city for first See HERITAGE page 11 See COVID page 6 [email protected] IN THE CITY A Thanksgiving Contaminants found in oil tank under Williams Park By Dalton Zbierski be spent during his official briefing “It used to be used as a golf driving message from Staff Writer prior to the council meeting. range and archery [range] for people “This is discovering what the to come to. The state also used that CHICOPEE – A baseball dia- problem is,” said Vieau. “The scope area quite a bit for access to the state Mayor John L. Vieau mond, basketball court, spray park, of work for the $53,000 includes co- park, especially by Lord Terrace soccer field, playground and tennis ordinating access to private residen- Street. You may want to check on Many ask me how it feels to be Mayor at this court could all be installed soon at tial properties in the area, drilling, that as well.” time with the COVID-19 pandemic, economic hard- Williams Park on Burnett Road. But groundwater sampling, data manage- Ward 6 City Council Derek ship, social unrest, and political divisiveness. When the city hit a road block re- Dobosz directed numerous I was running for office, frankly this is not what I cently after discovering an questions to Botelho during expected. unexpected occupant in re- the mayor’s briefing. Chief The question reminds me of this excerpt from cent weeks: an underground among them was how the J.R.R. Tolkien’s The Fellowship of the Ring: “I wish oil tank that could pose an project will affect the park, it need not have happened in my time,” said Frodo. environmental risk. which sits in his ward. “So do I,” said Gandalf, “and so do all who live to The Department of “At this point, there is see such times. But that is not for them to decide. All Public Works detected the no complete excavation,” we have to decide is what to do with the time that is presence of the buried tank said Botelho. “They’ll send given us.” while drilling and sampling a drilling rig out there and That is how I approach being Mayor, deciding to ahead of the installation of take samples to monitor what use the time we are given to protect the city, resolve a water mane. On Nov. 17, the ground water is doing. unrest, provide economic opportunity, and work to- City Council unanimous- That’s the biggest thing. I gether. None of us wanted the current situation, but ly moved to appropriate can’t speak to what happens how we treat others and react to this time of uncer- $53,000 to the DPW Parks after that or how we handle tainty is what is most important. Special Account for Wil- the mediation. That’s going At Thanksgiving, I am thankful for the help and liams Park Project to deter- to come once we have a bet- sense of community we have exhibited as a city. City mine the extent of the problem. ment, other notifications – and this is ter understanding of what this is and workers have been dedicated to providing needed ser- “It is a petroleum oil contami- just to get the ball rolling here.” how big it is.” vices and working for the good of the residents. We nant, so with this next phase, we’ll The city aims to learn more Dobosz was relieved to learn have healthcare workers, putting themselves and their hopefully be able to delineate the about the tank that has likely sat for that there will be no immediate dis- families at risk to keep us safe and healthy. We have contamination and then move for- decades, undetected, below Williams ruption. When the project was dis- seen businesses sacrificing and working to keep our ward with how to remediate it. We Park. cussed during the council meeting, economy moving.