LOCAL NEWS. LOCAL STORIES. LOCAL ADVERTISERS. SINCE 1998. Chicopee Register A TURLEY PUBLICATION ❙ www.turley.com September 24, 2020 ❙ Vol. 22, No. 27 ❙ FREE www.chicopeeregister.turley.com Poor ventilation shutters Bowe BUSINESS By Dalton Zbierski Martial arts Staff Writer teacher makes “Expect the unexpect- ed,” may well be the Chicop- a difference ee Public Schools’ motto for the 2020-2021 academic year. See Page 2 During the COVID-19 pan- Supporters of the Boys & Girls Club of Chicopee pose for a photo on the morning of Sept. 18, demic, certainties have been as celebrating a successful 2020 edition of the “Battle of the Badges” hockey exhibition and rare as a student with perfect fundraiser that occurred on March 7. COURTESY PHOTOS attendance, and the school dis- trict has readied itself for the unforeseen. Unfortunately, the semes- ter’s first tough break occurred Battle of the Badges before classes officially began. COMMUNITY Due to poor ventilation, Patrick E. Bowe School on Hampden Cub Scout Street will be shuttered until Feb. 2021 at the earliest. rivalry proceeds awarded mum sale “We asked for an HVAC Boys & Girls Club building assessment. When See Page 2 we received the report back, it receive $5,000 showed on there how the only By Dalton Zbierski ventilation in both schools Staff Writer are the windows. We felt that wasn’t sufficient enough for CHICOPEE – On the ventilation as the cooler weath- evening of March 7, hun- er comes on,” said School Su- dreds of enthusiastic locals perintendent Lynn Clark on filled Fitzpatrick Arena in Sept. 15. Holyoke to witness the “Bat- The decision to close tle of the Badges,” a yearly Bowe School was announced hockey exhibition between on Sept. 11, just days prior to the Chicopee Fire and Police the first day of school on Sept. departments. 15. All Bowe School students The initiative raised over now must learn virtually until $10,000. The Boys & Girls the issue is resolved. Club of Chicopee received Clark noted that the dis- $5,000 while a scholarship Police Officer Chris Galindo signs a $5,000 check that is being OPINION trict contacted parents and fund for Chicopee students held by Boys & Girls Club of Chicopee Director Jason Reed. staff the morning after it re- and the family of fallen Chi- The money was raised during a March 7 initiative led by Johnny ceived the assessment. Phase copee Firefighter Anthony Chicopee first responders. I students, those with special Spano each received $2,500. Appleseed’s needs or circumstances who No more than 10 days tered, athletic events were hold even today. must learn in person, are being following the event, the full postponed or canceled en- It would take more than legacy bused to a different location. effect of the COVID-19 pan- tirely and large-scale fund- six months for the event’s demic struck. Schools were raisers such as “Battle of the See Page 4 See BOWE page 5 closed, businesses were shut- Badges” remain difficult to See BADGES page 9 Making a difference by going door-to-door By Dalton Zbierski door to door in Chicopee last walked together through of COVID, we’re not knock- Staff Writer Friday in a heartfelt effort to Chicopee Center, spreading ing on doors. We just place make a difference. For two knowledge of critical resourc- these on the doorknobs,” said CHICOPEE – A commu- hours on Sept. 18, represen- es such as home health care Gazda. nity-based collaboration went tatives of numerous groups options, substance use recov- Gazda hopes the endeav- ery services and health im- or will occur every week and proving options such as food eventually reach all parts of SPORTS resources and social services. the city. Due to the location Officers from the Chi- of the C3 Unit’s substation in Home fans only copee Police Department’s Chicopee Center, nearby West C3 Unit led the neighborhood and School streets were cho- allowed at high march alongside representa- sen first. tives of Commonwealth Care In the near future, it is ex- school games Alliance, Tapestry Health and pected the initiative will visit Better Life Homecare. Sgt. the Fairview and Willimansett See Page 8 Tommy Gazda, leader of the sections of Chicopee. Rosa C3 Unit, listed the objective. Cortez, of CCA, detailed the “We put together a little project’s value and aim. INDEX over 100 bags filled with bro- “We just go out into the Opinion 4 chures from the RiverMills community to bring informa- Faces and Places 6 Center that include info on tion to those folks who are Representatives of the Chicopee Police Dept.’s C3 Unit, a lot of resources that people homebound or can’t really ac- Sports 8 Commonwealth Care Alliance, Tapestry Health and Better Life might not know or be aware cess it,” said Cortez. “When Classifieds 10-11 Homecare went door-to-door through sections of Chicopee Center that they qualify for. Every- Public Notices 11 on Sept. 18 to spread awareness of critical resources. COURTESY PHOTO thing is in bags, and because See DIFFERENCE page 7 IN THE CITY Martial arts instructor making a difference By Dalton Zbierski ed for by the district and will arrive at 8:45 Staff Writer a.m. in accordance with a typical school day. In addition to academics, Goodrich CHICOPEE – The Center for Martial has hired a dance instructor and a drama Arts and Fitness, located at 22 Center St., instructor to lead different activities while has expanded into the Falls Polish Home he will teach martial arts. at 27 Grove St. Owner Ken Goodrich Goodrich believes that it is critical made the move strategically, as a second, for Chicopee students to return to some larger space will allow him to impact more semblance of normalcy. For Bowe School of the community’s youth. students who can no longer learn inside of When the COVID-19 pandemic ar- the school, 22 Center St. will be the next rived in March, Goodrich converted his best thing. Center Street location into an emergency “For the kids, they need structure and child care facility. Then Goodrich em- a routine; to get back to doing physical ac- barked on the hunt for new space. tivities,” said Goodrich. “They need to get “Originally, I was at Bowe School. into doing things that help with their social I’ve been there for 13 years, but [due to and emotional needs too because those ha- the pandemic and the building’s ventila- ven’t been met. When they’re here, they’re tion issues] we’re not allowed to be there going to get a lot of different opportunities this year,” he said. to supplement their schoolwork; most are Nolan Diver enjoys himself at the Center Left to right are Zillah and Azaria Cintron At the Falls Polish Home, the Center active.” for Martial Arts and Fitness. partake in virtual learning at the Center for for Martial Arts will serve clients of all Local parents of Bowe School stu- STAFF PHOTOS BY DALTON ZBIERSKI Martial Arts and Fitness. skill sets and age groups. The space at 22 dents who elect to send their children to Center St. will offer programming exclu- 22 Center St. can rest easy knowing that and the region itself. During an ongoing gymnasium at Bowe School. sively for Bowe School students who have their children are well-cared for by he and time of difficulty, Goodrich believes there “The Polish Home is unbelievable,” been displaced. his staff. is much to learn from the philosophies pri- he said. “It’s an over 3,000-square-foot “Because we were at Bowe School “First and foremost, we wouldn’t be oritized at the Center for Martial Arts and building, it’s got a stage, bleachers, we’ll on Hampden Street, a lot of our kids came here without the kids and the parents,” Fitness. be having some tournaments here,” he from there. Our 22 Center St. location is said Goodrich. “Our job is to make sure “With the martial arts that we do, re- said. “At the new location, we’re going to only for kids who go to Bowe School,” that the parents can feel comfortable when spect, humility, perseverance, self-control be offering martial arts classes; we have said Goodrich. ““Any kid that is the pro- they drop their kids off and make sure they and honesty are our five aims,” said Go- children, teen and adult classes for all gram is going to be doing exactly what have a safe environment, they’re well-fed, odrich. abilities and levels. We have special needs they would be doing if they were at home they’re taken care of. Without the parents, The second floor of the Falls Polish classes that we do as well.” or in school; learning virtually or in-per- we certainly wouldn’t be here.” Club will offer Goodrich an expanded More information on the Center for son.” Goodrich is an experienced martial space to teach lessons and continue the Martial Arts and its childcare program can Each student learning at 22 Center St. arts instructor, who has earned the respect international breaking tournaments that be discovered on the business’ Facebook will have an iPad or Chromebook provid- of many residents in the city of Chicopee have for many years occurred inside of the page. Friends of the Chicopee Public Cub Scouts hold mum sale CHICOPEE – Cub Scout Pack 138, Financial restraints sparked by the Library to be held on Sept. 27 of Chicopee, will also be coordinating an pandemic have plagued the troop, which event that weekend, continuing its yearly is highly optimistic that many residents CHICOPEE – The Friends of the a raffle prize as many are needed and tradition.