🌱 How Chicopee’s soup kitchen is now helping hungry local pets too

Greetings Chicopee! We’re your go-to source for what’s happening in town. Read on to get plugged in! ☀️

In today's newsletter:

• How Chicopee’s soup kitchen is now helping hungry local pets too
• How Westover’s F-35 drills fit into a global missile arms race
• Why a former governor’s aide is battling over $31K in pay

Today's riddle: what do you call a rabbit with fleas? 🤔 (Answer below!)

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Weather forecast:

• Wednesday: A morning shower; breezy, with a high of 63 and low of 53 degrees.
• Thursday: Occasional rain, temps: high: 61, low: 53.
• Friday: Cloudy with showers around, with a high of 62 and low of 48 degrees.

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📰 News we're reading

• ‘Reese Pet Food Initiative' launches to support pets in need (westernmassnews.com) — A new Reese Pet Food Initiative is partnering with Lorraine’s Soup Kitchen in Chicopee to provide free pet food and supplies to families facing financial hardship. The program aims to keep pets in their homes and reduce surrenders, while organizers collect donations of dog and cat food, litter, and basic pet supplies across western Massachusetts.
   

• The F-22 and F-35 Carry an Air-to-Air Missile That Tops Out at 185km — China's J-20 Carries One That Just Hit at 200km in Combat (nationalsecurityjournal.org) — Chicopee gets a brief spotlight as F-35s from the 158th Fighter Wing conduct rapid refueling and rearming drills at Westover Air Reserve Base, underscoring the base’s role in cutting-edge air operations. Most of the piece, however, focuses on how U.S. air-to-air missiles on F-22s and F-35s compare with China’s longer-range PL-15 and the forthcoming AIM-260.
   

• Former governor's aide LaMar Cook fights state over $31K vacation pay (wwlp.com) — A Chicopee-datelined report explains how former gubernatorial aide LaMar Cook is fighting the state’s effort to reclaim more than $31,000 in accrued vacation pay. Cook and a Northampton attorney argue Massachusetts law treats unused vacation as wages, while the state says the payout was mistakenly issued after his termination. A June 17 pretrial date is set.
   

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📸 Around Chicopee

Show off your photography skills and the sights around town! Click here to submit your Photo of the Day to Patch AM!

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🗓 Upcoming Events in Chicopee

Add your event to our calendar and newsletter!

★ Featured events ★

Wednesday May 13

• UMass Guest Speaker: Alexa Hershberger - Effects of Dam Removal on Freshwater Mussels →
  Chicopee Public Library, 449 Front St, Chicopee
  7:00 pm

Want to see your event featured? Click here!

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Other local events

Wednesday May 13

• Chicopee Zoning Board of Appeals Meeting Notice →
  City of Chicopee RiverMills Center - 5 West Main Street Chicopee MA 01020
  6:30 pm
• Girls Varsity Lacrosse - Girls vs Southwick Regional School
  Chicopee Comprehensive High School, 617 Montgomery St, Chicopee
  7:00 pm

Thursday May 14

• Boys JV Volleyball vs Chicopee High School
  Chicopee Comprehensive High School, 617 Montgomery St, Chicopee
  4:00 pm
• Girls Varsity Softball vs Northampton High School
  Chicopee Comprehensive High School, 617 Montgomery St, Chicopee
  4:00 pm
• Girls JV Lacrosse - Girls vs South Hadley High School
  Chicopee Comprehensive High School, 617 Montgomery St, Chicopee
  4:45 pm
• Boys Varsity Volleyball vs Chicopee High School
  Chicopee Comprehensive High School, 617 Montgomery St, Chicopee
  5:15 pm
• Healing Through Art →
  Chicopee, MA Calendar, The Hub at Market Square 31 Springfield Street, Chicopee
  6:00 pm

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📣 Chicopee Shout Outs!

Want to say something great about someone in town? Click here to submit your Shout Out to Patch AM! It's free!

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🗓 Events Nearby

Wednesday May 13

• Ready, Set, Go! Home City Families Gross Motor Playgroup
  Liberty Branch, 765 State St., Springfield
  10:30 am
• Women's Money Matters Information Session
  Liberty Branch, 765 State St., Springfield
  12:30 pm
• Knot Just Knitters
  Liberty Branch, 1187 Parker St., Springfield
  1:00 pm
• Maker Time!
  East Forest Park Branch, 136 Surrey Rd., Springfield
  1:00 pm

Have we missed something on our calendar? Add an event yourself! As always, before attending confirm event details to ensure accuracy.

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Want to see your business here? Click here to connect with local customers.

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💬 Chatter

What your neighbors are talking about on social media

• Acosta posted a job opening for Grocery Stocker in Chicopee. Apply here.
• Kentucky Fried Chicken posted a job opening for Team Member in Chicopee. Apply here. You can search for other jobs near Chicopee here.

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🗞 Nearby News

Holyoke

• Public Service Committee 5/11/2026 (holyokemedia.org)
• Ordinance Committee 5/07/2026 (holyokemedia.org)
• HCC student suspended after alleged bathroom recording incident (westernmassnews.com)

Springfield

• World's Largest Pancake Breakfast to take over downtown Springfield this Saturday (wwlp.com)

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Ok Chicopee! So now you're in the loop about what's happening today. Thanks for reading, and see you in your inbox next time! Oh -- and if you like what you're reading, invite a friend to Patch AM!

-- The Patch AM Team

P.S. The answer to today's riddle: Bugs Bunny ! (Thank you bruce A. for sending it in!)
Got a good riddle for PatchAM? Submit it here!

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