Thanks to everyone who joined us in Riverfront Park for a Star Spangled Springfield. The park was full and there were thousands more who enjoyed the fireworks from parking garages, parks, porches, rotaries and bridges with vantage points of Fireworks by Grucci's pyrotechnics.

Thanks also to MassMutual, Tower Square, Smith & Wesson, WWLP-22News, Mix 93.1 FM, MassLive, The Republican, City of Springfield and so many others who lent their support.

Judy Matt

President

Take a Peek Behind the Scenes

It was teamwork as Fireworks by Grucci and the Springfield Department of Public Works worked side-by-side, as they have for years, to present the amazing Star Spangled Springfield fireworks display. They carefully loaded trucks with various size tubes (mortars) and filled them with sand.

When the Memorial Bridge was closed, they delivered the trailers, set up the staging and load the mortars with pyrotechnics and laid out the Grucci Grand Illuminations on the roadway. All the while, they wired the electronic igniters in to circuit boards.

Then, they anxiously waited for the sun to set and the show to begin.

Star Spangled Success

The rain stopped and the sun came out just as families started to arrive in Riverfront Park on July 4th. They came to be a part of Star Spangled Springfield. They enjoyed performances by Christina Colon, Falcetti Music's Ladies & Gentlemen and Sci-Tech Band "The Pride of Springfield." They stayed for the fireworks that included smiley faces, U-S-A and a lot more ground fireworks.

While heading home, comments like "It was the best show ever," "Did you see the firework with the red and white stars?", and

"My favorite was . . . "

Special thanks to the 104th Fighter Wing for showing off their stuff on their way to Boston.

SPONSOR WANTED:

U. S. Air Force Band

The Spirit of Springfield has been given the opportunity to welcome the U. S. Air Force Band and the Singing Sergeants to Springfield Symphony Hall on Tuesday, October 20 as a part of their biannual tour.

More than 50 musicians will perform a wide variety of musical styles, from light classics, popular favorites and instrumental features, to classical transcriptions and original works for the band idiom. For one selection, musicians from a local high school will be invited to perform on stage as will members of a high

school chorus.

To learn more about how your company

can support this patriotic performance,

contact amy@spiritofspringfield.org or

call 413-733-3800.

Spin for Springfield Ride to Remember

The Spirit of Springfield has teamed up with One Eighty Fit Gym to raise money for the Springfield Ride to Remember on Thursday, August 27. Fifteen Spinning Bikes will be set-up outside One Financial Plaza from 11AM to 2PM.

Show your support by taking a 15-minute ride on a spinning bike. The $25 donation for an individual or a $100 donation for a team of five will go directly to build new soccer fields in the name of Springfield Police Department Fallen Officers Alain Beauregard and Michael Schiavina. All rides receive a Springfield Ride to Remember t-shirt and refreshments.

Sign up to spin for the Springfield Ride to Remember!

Contact nicole@spiritofspringfield.org or call 413-733-3800.

Bright Nights Ball Auction Items Arrive

The requests have been mailed out and the donations for the City of Bright Nights Ball live and silent auction have started to arrive. The first was from The Log Cabin/Delaney House's Peter Rosskothen. We have also received a pair of tickets to the Blue Man Group in Boston, $100 gift card for the Munich Haus, $50 gift card for Bobby V's Restaurant and Sports Bar, parking certificates from Executive Valet, four one-day Park Hopper Passes for Disney World and more.

To donate an item to the City of

Bright Nights Ball silent or live auction,

contact amy@spiritofspringfield.org or

call 413-733-3800.

The Spirit of Springfield is a private, non-profit corporation

which produces high-quality,

large-scale events in the city of Springfield.

Our mission is to promote community events and
encourage civic pride.

Celebrating 25 Years of Springfield's

Biggest, Best and Brightest

In This Issue

Take a Peek Behind the Scenes

Star Spangled Springfield Success

SPONSOR WANTED:

U. S. Air Force Band

Spin for Springfield Ride to Remember

Bright Nights Ball Auction Items Arrive

Guest Corner

Jesse Baker, Owner

One Eighty Fit Gym

As the owner of 180 Fit Gym, I am honored to present to the community our second annual fundraiser for the Ride to Remember. For the past 3 years, the 106-mile bike ride from Springfield to Boston has been raising money for the Massachusetts Law Enforcement Memorial. Last year the event raised $85,000.

I have always admired the courage of our emergency response professionals. Therefore, I was honored when approached by Sgt.

John Delaney and Judy Matt of the Spirit of Springfield to participate in this campaign. The Ride to Remember is an opportunity for our community to acknowledge those men and women who selflessly gave their lives to protect the lives of others.

Last year, we positioned all of our spin bikes in front of our building at 1350 Main Street. Our instructors led the riders on an exciting cycling experience. The response was huge! Mayors Sarno, Sullivan and Knapik attended the event along with many public figures. In total, the event raised over $5,000.

This year, we are looking to improve upon an already successful platform. We have added some interesting twists to this year's ride. We have mounted the bikes with RPM readers for a new challenge, and squaring off some of our celebrity riders against one another to see who can generate more power and hopefully, more money for the charity. Please come support law enforcement, and our community!

Mark Your Calendars!

Set Your Alarm!