LOCAL NEWS. LOCAL STORIES. LOCAL ADVERTISERS. SINCE 1998. Chicopee Register A TURLEY PUBLICATION ❙ www.turley.com July16, 2021 ❙ Vol. 23, No. 16 ❙ FREE www.chicopeeregister.turley.com Chicopee Galaxy kicks off season By Dalton Zbierski Editor CHICOPEE – The Chico- pee Galaxy Youth Athletic Association has taken flight. Named for the Lockheed C-5 Galaxy airplanes at Westover Air Reserve Base, Chicopee’s newest youth sports league IN THE CITY recently kicked off its inaugural season of flag football. Chicopee FRESH Chicopee Galaxy co-founder Melissa English adds swag helped launch the non-profit to provide youths in the city See Page 3 with an opportunity to play or- ganized, competitive football. Enough participants signed on to field 11 teams. “We expected, honestly, 50 or 60 kids. We didn’t re- alize we would end up with CHICOPEE GALAXY PHOTOS SUBMITTED BY THE CHICOPEE GALAXY YOUTH ATHLETIC ASSOCIATION. about 120 kids in the end,” said The Chicopee Galaxy Youth Athletic Association recently launched a flag football league; its inaugural English, who credited the vol- season is underway. unteer coaches. “We wanted to get the kids back out there plete strangers proved to be that welcomes participants ward Bellamy Middle School. and have them be able to make an unenjoyable task, one that who are in or below eighth- “We decided to do flag friends and run around again.” wasn’t nearly as fun as play- grade, an age limit that is man- because these kids have been English began consider- ing with friends and classmates dated by the Suburban Amateur cooped up; why wait until Aug. ing the venture when the Chi- back in Chicopee. English Football League. 1 to do tackle when we can start copee Chargers youth football contacted several former Chi- Chicopee Galaxy also a flag football team [now]? At program disbanded following copee Chargers coaches, who connected with National Foot- least it gets the kids out of the the COVID-19 pandemic. This expressed immediate interest ball League FLAG Football; house right now,” said English. spring, English regularly took in launching an athletic asso- all 11 teams sport a uniform Perhaps, the non-profit’s her fifth-grade son to South ciation. fitted with the logo of a differ- most critical function is to keep Hadley to play flag football and English and a team of ent NFL team. Currently, flag youths engaged in a productive to Westfield for tackle football. coaches quickly created Chi- football games are being held Playing alongside com- copee Galaxy, a youth league on the athletic field behind Ed- See GALAXY page 5 SPORTS Pioneers COMMUNITY COMMUNITY stay hot See Page 7 Resident seeks organ donor National By Dalton Zbierski Editor Night Out CHICOPEE – A Chi- copee man in need of a kid- ney is exploring all options. returns In a race against time, Rich- ard Corriveau, 67, is seeking By Cara McCarthy an organ donation. Staff Writer Corriveau, a certified nursing assistant, has waged CHICOPEE - After hav- a 10-year battle with kid- ing to take a year off due to the ney disease. As Corriveau’s COVID-19 pandemic, Chicopee kidneys grow weaker, the is bringing back National Night search for a suitable donor is Out, a 27-year-old tradition for becoming more prevalent by the city. the day. The event will be held Mon- “It would be a matter of day, Aug. 2, and the committee SPORTS saving my life, getting a kid- includes a number of Chicopee ney,” said Corriveau, a hus- officials, including police offi- Aldenville splits band and father. cers, firefighters, members of Corriveau is current- City Council and the Mayor’s with Monson Rick Corriveau of Chicopee, pictured here with his daughter Em- Office. ly working with a team at ily and wife Carol, is in need of a kidney. Baystate Medical Center in The committee also consists See Page 7 Springfield to locate a donor. to anyone,” said Corriveau. The procedure would al- of the Boys and Girls Club of Unfortunately, none of Chicopee, the Chicopee Hous- “They do bloodwork and all low him to live freely without INDEX Corriveau’s relatives are able the standard medical things relying on dialysis, which of- ing Authority, Emergency Man- to offer him a kidney. The because they don’t want to ten becomes necessary when agement, Parks and Recreation, In the City 2 procedure will rely on the take a kidney from anyone one loses 85 to 90% of his or the Department of Public Works Health 4 benevolence of an anony- who isn’t in perfect health. her kidney function. and the library, according to the mous donor. event’s press release. Opinion 6 They’re very careful.” “I help people in their Sports 7 Individuals can live Kidney disease has lim- homes. I do a lot of home- Chicopee Police Detective healthily with one ful- ited Corriveau’s ability to care; taking care of wash- and Public Information Ofc., Public Notices 10 Donna Liszka said the event ly-functioning kidney. work. If he receives a trans- ing, cleaning, doing laundry, Classifieds 11 “There is help available plant, Corriveau’s quality of shopping and cooking. It “helps break down barriers and to make this process go, but life will be restored. they don’t just give a kidney See RESIDENT page 5 See NIGHT OUT page 5 IN THE CITY City Council discusses Cultural Council, passes a variety of parking changes By Cara McCarthy According to Labrie, the school has enforcement in the last 12 months. or [they] get from the state.” Staff Writer five buses. The motion was defeated and Tillitson added, “We are only respon- The City Council decided unani- Courchesne said, “At least my constit- sible for what they get from the city and CHICOPEE – On July 6, the Chicop- mously to pass the motion. uents can count on me to advocate for what we allow them to have in their bud- ee City Council approved several ordi- The City Council also voted to install them.” get.” nances related to street parking. an isolated stop sign on Atkins Street. The City Council also passed a mo- Ward 6 Councilor Derek Dobosz Three of the favorable reports from An unfavorable report was also filed tion requesting the Chicopee Cultural said, despite the disagreements he may the Ordinance Committee included the to add a tow away zone on John Street. Council meet with the Finance Commit- have had in the past with the Cultural implementation of a “Parking Prohibit- Council-at-Large James Tillotson re- tee to provide an update on its 2019 ini- Council, he generally believes that they ed” sign on Center Street and Springfield quested the motion be reviewed and de- tiatives. do great work for the city. Street. feated. There was some discussion over He said all he wants is to make sure Another ordinance that passed was Tillotson said, “I voted ‘no’ on this what money the Cultural Council receives “the City Council and Cultural Council the implementation of a prohibited park- because I’m trying to make a tough case from the city as that is the only income the are on the same page” with its initiatives ing sign from 8 a.m. to 9 a.m. and 2 p.m. in my own mind.” City Council has any control over. Several and finances. to 3 p.m., Monday through Friday, near St He said there is already a 20-ft. area councilors mentioned the Cultural Coun- Dobosz added, “I am convinced they Joan of Arc School to ensure the school’s where people cannot park in addition to a cil fundraises much of their money and is do really good work.” busses are not obstructed before or after fire hydrant, which adds another 10 ft. of the number one recipient of grants of any Sandy’s Auto World filed new Class school. space where parking is prohibited. council in Chicopee. 2 and Class 3 License applications, an Ward 8 Councilor Gary Labrie said, Ward 7 Councilor William Tillotson said, “Sometimes I think Auto Body/Auto Repair License, and “The principal took it upon himself to buy Courchesne said, “I will always advocate we get mixed up with the monies that are Auto Detail License. some ‘no parking’ signs and put them up for the health and safety of my ward.” given to the Cultural Council from the All of the motions passed and will be on the street.” He added there has been no parking city and those that are raised on their own taken up in committee. Thank You for Your Service Sgt. Charles H. Tracy, U.S. Army Civil War Veteran Congressional Medal of Honor Recipient Dedicated: Oct. 21, 1979 – Fairview Cemetery – Oleander Path #26 CHICOPEE – The Congressional under heavy fire, assisted in removing the MA Adjutant General’s Office. Tra- Medal of Honor is the highest decoration two lines of chevaux-de-frise; was twice cy was discharged for wounds on July 5, bestowed to a member of the Armed Forc- wounded but advanced to the third line, 1865 in Chester, PA. Shortly thereafter, es by the U.S. government for conspicu- where he was again severely wounded, he returned to Chicopee, where he ous valor in combat. So rare is this award losing a leg.” lived with his family until their move that Tracy is the first Chicopee resident to Tracy was born in 1833 in Jewett to Charlestown, MA in 1897. have received it. City, CT. He moved to Chicopee as a While in Chicopee, Tracy Though only several thousand were young man.