Untitled Document The Springfield Project-Home Ownership Program for Equity will soon break ground on five new homes for low-income residents, with an additional 10 to follow, thanks to funding allocated by the City Council this week. The city had previously given $200,000 for home-construction costs to TSP-Hope Inc. for the new homes, and on Tuesday […]
Amanda Robert
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Turning up the heat
Untitled Document On Nov. 3, thousands of people across the country will dip an index finger in green ink, congregate in such historic places as the Lincoln Memorial or along Paul Revere’s route, and remind political leaders that their stand on global warming will affect the outcome of next fall’s election. Springfield environmentalists and social […]
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SOS open for business
Untitled Document When the Springfield Overflow Shelter opens tonight, both the clients and the helpers will notice changes. The shelter, previously located at Helping Hands, has moved to the Salvation Army, 530 N. Sixth St. For the homeless, the new location means access to hot showers and close proximity to breakfast at either the Washington […]
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Less than perfect
Untitled Document It’s not the perfect answer, says Ward 6 Ald. Mark Mahoney, but the new trash ordinance passed by the City Council on Tuesday is good first step. The new ordinance, effective April 1, 2008, continues the current system of free yard-waste pickup in April and November, with $1.50 stickers mandatory for […]
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Shaking things up
Untitled Document As the city prepares for its annual budgeting process, the City Council’s new aldermen are already promising to shake things up. At a recent budget workshop with representatives of the Department of Public Works, Ward 7 Ald. Debbie Cimarossa questioned director Mike Norris about temporary workers’ salaries. According to the current […]
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Reprieve
Untitled Document After three months of around-the-clock labor, Steven Kren has saved the historic Decker Home, at 303 S. Glenwood Ave., from the city’s wrecking crew. In July, the city granted Kren his third and final extension to his permit to make structural changes to the 112-year home, including the addition of support to the […]
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Labor made
Untitled Document After last year’s tornadoes ravaged Springfield and knocked out most of the city’s power, hundreds of union members — including members of the Laborers, Teamsters, Carpenters, and Operating Engineers unions — stepped in to rescue stranded residents and remove trees from their homes. Now, with the help of Ward 10 Ald. Tim Griffin, […]
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Clear path
Untitled Document The Nipper Wildlife Sanctuary Trust and the sanctuary’s neighbors are looking ahead after the Sangamon County Board voted last week to approve the trust’s request for a conditional-use permit to establish a public park on 27.2 acres of the 120-acre Loami sanctuary, located at 9560 Withers Rd. The neighbors initially cited safety and […]
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Otherwise, good to go
Untitled Document Ward 6 Ald. Mark Mahoney is working this week to fine-tune his proposed trash ordinance and expects a final draft to be ready for discussion at the Oct. 22 meeting of the City Council’s Public Affairs and Safety Committee. The holdup, says Mahoney, is a battle not over attaching garbage charges to City […]
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On the edge
It’s early in the game when the scoreboard changes: Southern Minnesota Express, 2; Springfield Jr. Blues, 0. Hundreds of fans, decked out in yellow, blue, and white, rally behind their team. “Let’s go, Blues, let’s go, Blues,” they chant, stomping on the bleachers and ringing yellow keynote-emblazoned cowbells. The Jr. Blues speed across the ice, […]
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“Significant compromise”
Untitled Document Ward 6 Ald. Mark Mahoney is calling his proposed trash ordinance nothing short of a “give and take.” The new ordinance, which will come under review by the public-affairs and safety committee Monday and by the full City Council Tuesday, avoids controversial measures such as centralized billing on City Water, Light and Power […]
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New digs for the YWCA
Untitled Document Things are looking up for the YWCA building and the organization it houses, with a potential buyer moving in and the struggling nonprofit moving out. Mary Hardy-Hall, executive director of the Young Women’s Christian Association, which provides job retention, after-school, and life-skills programs for women and children, said the organization will be moving […]
