Wiezbicki ready to lead Fourth of July Parade

June 16, 2016 | Chris Goudreau
cgoudreau@thereminder.com

Connie Wiezbicki
Reminder Publications photo by Chris Goudreau

EAST LONGMEADOW – Longtime resident and business owner Connie Wiezbicki will be leading the procession as grand marshal during this year’s Fourth of July Parade.

Wiezbicki told Reminder Publications he’s honored to serve as the 2016 parade marshal and was “shocked” when it was announced during the May 16 Annual Town Meeting.

“The community spirit is a great attribute to a lot of people who work in this town,” he noted. “And I’m glad to be a part of it.”

Wiezbicki said he believes the parade is an “integral part of our town.”

He added, “Even though we’ve had a hard time financing it over the years, it’s back and the people want it … This is part of our heritage. Some times you’ve got to bend over backwards to accommodate it even though economically it may not be feasible, but you have to do it for the spirit.”

Wiezbicki, 77, owner of Acres Equipment at 104 Shaker Road, said he’s been in business for 47 years in town. He came East Longmeadow in 1942 from Indian Orchard at the age of 4.

“We’ve seen a lot of growth,” he added. “We’ve seen good times, bad times, and we’re not a town anymore. We’re a mini city and so we’ve got to be able to work as a community together and keep it as an individual not as a big block strip mall. Individual business is what made this town and so far it’s working.”

Wiezbicki has served as a member of several local organizations, including the East Longmeadow and Longmeadow Chamber of Commerce, the East of the River Chamber of Commerce, the Galaxy Community Council at Westover Air Reserve Base, and the East Longmeadow Jaycees chapter. He has also been a sponsor of the Hampden County 4-H Fair since 1978.

He added he’s also donated tractors and utility vehicles to past Fourth of July Parades and has also contributed to National Night Out events. Wiezbicki has also served on the Capital Planning Committee since 2000, served on a Government Review Committee in 2001 and a previous Charter Commission from 2004 to 2005, and most recently volunteered to serve on the Police Chief Search Committee.

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