Springfield Vermont News

10/12 - Dropping oil prices leave Springfield regretting pre-buy contract: Back in early July, when gas and oil prices were growing faster than weeds in a vegetable garden, the town signed a contract that it thought would save taxpayers thousands of dollars this coming winter.
10/11 - Apple Fest lifts spirits: Spirits were high on sunny Saturday afternoon as people browsed among craft booths, purchased local farm apples, ate fried dough and children had their faces painted at the Vermont Apple Festival.
10/10 - Reviving the CVL: Born out of the fuel crisis of the 1970s, the Connecticut Valley League matched teams on both sides of the Connecticut River and created legendary local rivalries.
10/09 - Apples and craft in Homer's place: The 26th Annual Vermont Apple & Craft Show at the Riverside Middle School.
10/09 - Symington Tours SSCF: House Speaker and Democratic gubernatorial candidate Gaye Symington brought her campaign to the Southern State Correctional Facility in Springfield for a personal tour on Oct. 7, and allowed the Black River Tribune to join her.
10/09 - Parents Rally to Change School Bus Routes: School buses backfire occasionally, and so do plans to try to save money on them, to judge from what a group of local parents had to say to the Springfield school board on Oct. 6.
10/09 - Man Threatened with Shotgun: A North Springfield man pleaded not guilty to misdemeanor reckless endangerment in Windsor District Court on Oct. 7 for his role in an Aug. 16 incident in which he allegedly called Springfield police to let them know he fired a shotgun at a dirt biker who annoyed him by driving on his property.
10/08 - Lawyers: Kid killer could get early release: Thomas Olsen of Springfield, who was convicted 14 years ago of second-degree murder of his girlfriend's 2-year-old daughter, could be out of jail as early as January, according to a new agreement between the lawyers in the case.
10/07 - Workshops to teach energy efficiency: A free workshop at the Howard Dean Center this Wednesday evening will teach how to "Button Up" homes with an eye toward energy efficiency.
10/06 - Parents not happy with busing routes: An attempt to save the Springfield School District money on fuel by revamping bus schedules has gone awry, according to a parents' petition.
10/02 - Walk for Animals Raises $2,500: The Springfield Humane Society came close to its goal of raising $3,000 on Sept. 28 with its annual "Paws About Springfield" dog walk.
09/30 - Toddler's relatives firm on sentence: Relatives of murdered Springfield toddler Melissa Stevens said Monday they believe her convicted killer should remain behind bars, despite a tentative agreement that could see him leave prison years ahead of his original release date.
09/26 - Video: Parents Protest Transportation Change: A group of parents is seeking signatures in hopes the Springfield School Board will return to its former transportation practices. Bonnie Duquette, School Board Director Judith Edwards, Superintendent of Schools Frank Perotti.
09/25 - Parents pass petition to restore bus schedule: A parent group is seeking signatures for a petition that asks the Springfield School Board to return to last year's transportation methods.
09/25 - Trying to Save The Carriage House: It stands beside the gracious and historic Miller Art Center, a house that could fit three carriages within its walls, but it's structural fitness is in question.
09/25 - Distracted by GPS, motorist wrecks car: Police said a global positioning system distracted a Pennsylvania motorist enough to send him off the road and to the hospital Saturday afternoon.
09/24 - Bids Awarded for Fire Station, Ball Field: Briskly finishing the public portion of its meeting on Sept. 22, Springfield selectmen awarded bids to repair the Riverside ballfield and buy new boilers for the fire station.
09/24 - Cannonball in Comtu Falls?: The Black River Action Team conducted its final cleanup of the year on Sept. 20, this time concentrating on the Comtu Falls in the heart of Springfield. The cleanup yielded its usual haul of all kinds of trash, plus one possibly historic find.
09/18 - Possible Plea for Bedner: A plea deal may be in the works for Springfield resident Andrew Bedner, currently incarcerated at the Southern State Correctional Facility in Springfield for lack of $100,000 bail.
09/18 - Soccer On A Roll(er): Instead of suicide sprints and ball handling drills, the Springfield High School boys soccer team traded on-field practice for off-field service last week.
09/18 - School Board opens budget process to review: Even though the current budget was only approved by voters four months ago, the School Board has begun planning for next March.
09/18 - Buses and Playgrounds in Springfield: Keeping students safe and giving them a place to play kept the Springfield School District board's attention at its regular meeting on Sept. 15.
09/17 - 'Abutters' to school project cite traffic problems: Neighbors of Elm Hill and Union Street schools had their first chance on Wednesday night to learn more about the construction taking place next door and to voice their concerns.
09/16 - Video: Vermonters Weigh In On Sex Offender Laws: Jim Ball and other community members gathered in Springfield, Vt., Tuesday to weigh in on Vermont's sex offender laws in front of the Senate Judiciary Committee.
09/16 - Congressional hopeful campaigning for a write-in: Congressional Candidate Jerry Trudell arrived in Springfield Vt. in his "green car", a Mercedes 300D which has been converted to run on unrefined vegetable oil.
09/15 - Engineer says Ellis Block is fit for rehabilitation: The 1878 Ellis Block is structurally sound and could be rehabilitated, according to an engineer who has done a structural analysis of the fire-damaged downtown building for the Preservation Trust of Vermont.
09/14 - Grants help Springfield programs: For Springfield High School teachers Jim Chlebak and Lisa Murray, educating students about the arts means getting them involved in the community. And after receiving a $17,000 grant from the Okemo Community Challenge fund, that job just got a little easier.
09/13 - Judge denies motion for reduction of bail: A judge denied a motion Friday to reduce the bail of a man accused of setting a fire that left 40 Springfield residents homeless.
09/11 - New Restaurant in Springfield: After many years on River Road, Jonathan's Restaurant has gone, changing its name to Cooper's Restaurant and its new owner is former Jonathan's employee Theresa Morse.
09/11 - Dems Renominated, Blanchard Jumps In: A political surprise emerged on the night of the Sept. 9 primaries, as Mark Blanchard, 40, chairman of Springfield's board of selectmen, announced an independent run for the state Senate from Windsor County.
09/11 - Photo: Dems Renominated: State Reps. Alice Emmons, left, and Cynthia Martin, of Springfield, celebrate winning their party's nomination over challenger Larry Kraft in the Sept, 9 primaries.
09/11 - New Director at RACLT: Hanover, N.H. native Russ Brink has taken the reins of the Rockingham Area Community Land Trust from the departing Jeff Staudinger. Brink said he returned to the area because he wanted to do something different after 20 years of downtown development.
09/11 - Main Street Buildings Flooded: Recent construction work to replace Springfield's downtown sidewalks has apparently contributed to flooding in the basements of Main Street businesses on Sept. 6.
09/10 - Martin, Emmons declared victors: Rep. Cynthia Martin, D-Springfield, and Rep. Alice Emmons, D-Springfield, hugged each other tightly Tuesday evening in the lobby of Riverside Middle School after Town Clerk Meredith Kelley gave the "unofficial" results of Tuesday's Democratic primary. They had won.
09/10 - Select Board chief declares for Senate: Springfield Select Board Chairman Mark Blanchard announced Tuesday evening that he would be running as an independent for the Vermont Senate.
09/09 - Owners will take down gutted Ellis Block: The fire-damaged Ellis Block has to be demolished, its owner Daryl Wisch said Monday. But whether the Wisch family rebuilds and also reopens the now-closed Springfield Theater remains to be seen.
09/09 - Video: Future Of Springfield Theater Uncertain: The future of the Springfield Theater is uncertain after suffering damage from a July fire.
09/09 - Flooded town on alert for more rain: Downtown property owners who battled flooding during the weekend are bracing for more of the same today.
09/08 - Ellis Block plans in jeopardy: The owners of the burned-out Ellis Block in downtown Springfield learned Monday night that their original plan for 10 to 12 units in the new building would not be possible.
09/08 - Video: Springfield Businesses Flooded: Ray Kimball is used to putting in long days as general manager of WCFR in Springfield. However, this past weekend, he was pushed to the limit. That's because rain water started pouring into his Main Street station Saturday morning.
09/05 - Hospital in move to Fellows building: Springfield Hospital plans to move most of its doctors' offices into the former Fellows Gear Shaper building as part of the ambitious revitalization of the sprawling industrial complex that was almost abandoned a year ago.
09/04 - Union Street School opening went well: Union Street re-convened for the 2008-2009 academic year on Tuesday, with students divided between the existing school building and classroom trailers.
09/03 - Hospital Taking Over Gear Shaper Building: U.S. Sen. Patrick Leahy was given a tour Wednesday of the old Fellows Gear Shaper building on Riiver Street. Springfield Hospital plans to move its doctors' practices there by the beginning of 2010, assuming all goes as planned.
09/03 - Naked Man Pleads Not Guilty: A Charlestown, N.H. man pleaded not guilty to a charge of driving under the influence in Windsor. According to court documents, at 10:30 p.m. John Davis, 52, was found naked in the bed of a Pearl Street couple who had no idea who he was.
09/02 - Windsor district 1-2 voters get to choose: Voters who vote in the Democratic primary Sept. 9 will have a choice who will be their two state legislature candidates in November.
09/01 - Pair denies heroin charges: A Springfield man allegedly on escape from furlough and a Wilder woman have denied felony charges of heroin possession.
08/27 - Guilt denied in hammer assault: A Springfield woman denied charges she attacked a man with a sledgehammer.
08/26 - Rubber Ducky, You're So Fine: "All I need is a kid who doesnâ€™t mind a big box of rubber ducks dumped on her head while sheâ€™s laying on the floor."
08/26 - District votes to delay classroom move: Union Street pupils are returning to school six days after their peers at Elm Hill and Park Street, and when they do most of the rooms will look pretty familiar.
08/25 - Union Street addition not quite finished: The floors are still papered, the elevator hasn't been inspected, and the fire alarms have not been programmed. But Union Street School will still hold its first classes on Sept. 2, school officials said, though its new addition won't be 100 percent ready.
08/23 - Murder victim was shot in the back: The second -- and fatal -- shot that killed Vinny Tamburello last Sunday evening on a ball field in Chester was fired into his lower back and not his belly as first reported, Vermont's Chief Medical Examiner's Office concluded during an autopsy performed this week in Burlington.
08/22 - New evidence contradicts self-defense in shooting: Recently released documents appear to undermine a Chester man's assertion he acted in self-defense when he shot and killed a Springfield man Sunday night. (Article includes VIDEO of the crime scene.)
08/22 - SCHOOL BUS ROUTES: Complete listing of bus routes for the 2008/2009 academic year.
08/21 - North School Revisited: The North Springfield Old Home Days celebration I attended today was about what I expected. What I didn''t expect was the emotions I felt when I was able to enter the old school building with a tour group.
08/21 - Union St. School to open six days late: Ongoing construction work at Union Street School will result in a slightly longer summer vacation for its students.
08/21 - Friends recall a 'gentle giant' in Chester shooting: Slain man's violent end doesn't match family memories.
08/20 - Accounts differ in Chester shooting: Officials are still reconstructing the events and motivations that led to a fatal shooting of a Springfield man Sunday night.
08/19 - Man Pleads Self-Defense in Fatal Vt. Shooting: A Springfield, Vt., man has been charged with murder after allegedly firing his rifle twice at a man wielding an axe and then bashing the wounded man's head with the butt of the rifle during a fracas witnessed by dozens of onlookers near a softball field off Route 103 in Chester, Vt., on Sunday night.
08/19 - Man charged in Chester murder: The first shot was self-defense but the second was murder, Windsor County States Attorney Robert Sand told the court Monday, as he charged a Springfield man with gunning down an axe-wielding assailant who had already been wounded at the McKenzie Field ballpark
08/19 - Video: Was Chester Shooting Self-Defense?: Kyle Bolaski, 24, told police he thought he was the one who was going to be killed. Bolaski says that's why he pulled out a high-powered rifle from his truck and fatally shot Vincent Tamburello, 32.
08/19 - Springfield WWII history foretold in new art exhibit: History -- both powerful and poignant -- comes alive during the exhibit, "The Hub of the Universe: Springfield in World War II," at the Miller Art Center.
08/18 - Shooting turns fatal in Chester: A 32-year-old Springfield man is dead following a shooting at a ball field off Rt. 103 in Chester Sunday evening, according to Vermont State Police.
08/18 - Video: Man Killed At Chester Softball Field: Man Killed At Chester Softball Field. Vermont State Police say a shooting has claimed the life of a Springfield man. Suspect Kyle Bolaski, Chester resident Joe Tourigny, Prosecutor Robert Sand
08/18 - Couple denies sex rendezvous with minor: A married Springfield couple denied charges Tuesday of engaging in a menage-a-trois with a 14-year old girl.
08/18 - New chief hired: The Rockingham Area Community Land Trust has undergone a change in leadership, with the appointment of Russell C. Brink as the new executive director.
08/18 - Court gives approval for parking lot: The Springfield School District is now authorized to build a parking lot on the grounds of Elm Hill School, according to a decision handed down last week by the Windsor County Superior Court.
08/13 - Jonathan's Family Restaurant closes: The door to Jonathan's Family Restaurant was locked Wednesday afternoon, but it is not expected to be locked permanently.
08/12- MVP! MVP! MVP!: It took four days to find out, but that doesn't make Kathleen Anderson's victory any less sweet.
08/12 - Infant in alleged beating dies: An 8-week-old baby girl from Springfield, who was hospitalized after allegedly being beaten by her father, has died.
08/11 - Board endorses new road for truck traffic: An expensive solution may prove to the best approach to easing truck traffic troubles at the North Springfield Industrial Park.
08/11 - At the beginning of the end: With the OSS, Steve Sysko helped liberate Thailand from the Japanese in 1944.
08/10 - Springfield infant dies: The eight-week-old Springfield girl allegedly beaten by her father late last month died on Saturday, with prosecutors yet to make a decision whether the father will face any additional charges.
08/10 - Vermont schools grappling with high fuel costs: The Springfield School District is asking its students to dress warmer and walk farther this winter.
08/07 - Grant to fund energy project: Central Vermont Public Service President Bob Young was both looking up and looking to the future when he presented the Southern Vermont Health and Recreation Center with a $50,000 grant Wednesday morning.
08/06 - Springfield Theater will return: A month after the fire, the owner of our local movie theater issues a statement.
08/06 - Video: Rec Center Goes Solar: The pool at the Southern Vermont Health and Recreation Center is heated to 82 degrees by 69 solar panels that sit on the roof. Central Vermont Public Service is giving a $50,000 grant to the rec center to help install an additional 420 panels.
08/06 - Pat Kelley, Songwriter: "I've always had a passion for music," he says. It's just that he's had to wait a few decades to really pursue that passion.
08/05 - Traffic concerns dominate Community Center Bridge project talk: Think this summer's downtown sidewalk work in Springfield is disruptive? Next year's expected rehabilitation of the Community Center Bridge should make this summer look like an easy ride by comparison.
08/05 - Springfield man denies charges in infant assault: A Springfield man denied charges Monday of inflicting life-threatening injuries upon his 8-week-old daughter.
08/05 - Video: Father Pleads Innocent to Beating Baby: Police say that Andrew Bedner, 28, admitted he squeezed and elbowed his own 7-week-old child in an effort to keep her quiet. According to court papers, the girl has broken bones and severe brain damage which will likely never heal.
08/04 - Innocent plea in infant's beating: The father accused of repeatedly abusing and finally critically injuring his 7-week-old daughter because she wouldn't stop crying was back in Vermont District Court Monday afternoon, this time with a public defender at his side who has a reputation for being assigned some of Vermont's highest-profile murder cases.
08/03 - Stellafane conference draws big crowds: The annual Stellafane convention took place from Thursday to Sunday in Springfield. Amateur telescope makers from all over took part in the convention.
08/02 - Beating suspect delays plea file: A Springfield man remains in jail after invoking his right to delay entering a plea to charges he inflicted life-threatening injuries upon his seven-week-old daughter.
08/01 - Video: Police: Father Admitted Beating Baby: Andrew Bedner, 28, admitted to police that he was the one responsible for his daughter's injuries. The 7-week-old was airlifted to Dartmouth Hitchcock Medical Center Monday evening after the baby's mom called 9-1-1.
08/01 - Father charged in severe beating of daughter: As a seven-week-old baby girl barely clung to life on a respirator in a neonatal intensive care unit Friday, her father made a brief appearance in Vermont District Court where he is in the process of being charged with allegedly inflicting "devastating brain injuries" and other trauma upon her because she wouldn't stop crying.
08/01 - Springfield man charged with abusing infant: A Springfield man is facing charges after allegedly inflicting what police called "life-threatening injuries" upon his 7-week-old baby.
07/30 - Governor Douglas assesses town fire damage: The owner of the Lincoln/McKinley Block in downtown Springfield, damaged by water and smoke in the fire that gutted the neighboring Ellis Block earlier this month, said it would probably be a month to six weeks before Penelope's Restaurant can reopen.
07/29 - Rotary buys field at old ice cream plant: The baseball field formerly known as Ben & Jerry's field has not seen its last inning of Springfield baseball. The Springfield Rotary has purchased the field adjacent to the former Ben & Jerry's plant on Fairbanks Road and plans to renovate it and give it back to the town.
07/29 - FM, Red Sox radio returns: Red Sox fans rejoice! After a 10-year absence, FM radio has returned to town, allowing more listeners to follow local news and root for the home team.
07/29 - Tax rate increases six cents: Residents will see a six cent increase in the town's overall residential tax rate following the select board's vote Monday night to set the 2008-09 rate. The board also awarded Irving Oil a contract to supply the town and schools with 285,000 gallons of fuel oil.
07/29 - Town's property taxes set to rise: Property taxes are going up 2.6 percent for residents of Springfield, and about double that increase for nonresidential property owners and owners of commercial property.
07/27 - North Springfield store robbed: An armed robber held up the North Springfield Mobil late Sunday night getting away with hundreds of dollars in cash.
07/24 - Proposed changes worry parents: While the School Board considered changes Monday night to the way the district creates bus routes, some residents voiced concern that proposed changes might prevent students from getting to school at all.
07/24 - Ellis Block owners await insurer action: The family that owns the Ellis Block in downtown Springfield said Monday they were waiting for their insurance company before they could hire someone to stabilize and clean up the burned-out building.
07/24 - Court won't reduce bail for jailed fire suspect: Citing risk of flight and his proposed living situation as unacceptable, a judge denied a motion to reduce bail for a man accused of setting a fire that left 40 people homeless.
07/23 - New sidewalks weeks away in downtown Springfield: Out with the old, in with the new is the theme in downtown Springfield as crews started ripping up sidewalks along one side of Main Street this week.
07/22 - Welch brings rec center fed funding: U.S. Rep. Peter F. Welch, D-Vt., proved that congressional "pork" can be good for your health. Welch came to the Southern Vermont Recreation Center Monday morning with the news that he had secured $121,000 in federal health funding for the new center.
07/22 - Video: Welch Surveys Alleged Arson Scene: Rep. Peter Welch of Vermont visited the site of a July 9 fire at the Ellis Block in downtown Springfield, as estimators surveyed the damage to determine what it will cost to repair the building.
07/21 - Prison chief leaves position: Southern State Correctional Facility Superintendent Kevin Ashburn has left the prison less than three years after taking the job, according to Vermont Department of Corrections Commissioner Robert Hofmann.
07/19 - Police social worker making connections: As it has been the case for many in and around Springfield lately, Claudia Schleiman's life in the past 10 days has centered around the Ellis Block fire.
07/17 - CRT to cut bus routes: Not enough riders to meet "performance measures" will mean cutting back on in-town bus routes in Springfield and Windsor by Connecticut River Transit.
07/17 - Town walk project begins: The long-awaited $1.1 million downtown sidewalk reconstruction project on Main Street has finally begun.
07/16 - Down & Dirty News On Springfield Garden Club Scholarships: SGC awarded scholarships of $1000 each to deserving graduating Springfield High School Seniors, Evan Lockwood and Ben Bolaski.
07/15 - Springfield rec center loses tax appeal: A state appraiser has denied a request to lower the assessed value on the Southern Vermont Health and Recreation Center and subsequently lower its tax bill.
07/13 - Springfield to figure out what's next: With the odor of smoke still detectable days after this week's devastating fire at the Ellis Block, officials are set to gather to map out the next steps regarding the damaged downtown Springfield site.
07/12 - Official: Building unsafe after fire: Residents of the Lincoln Block in downtown Springfield won't be able to return to their homes until early next week at the earliest, assuming the building passes electrical and structural evaluations, the regional manager of the Division of Fire Safety said Friday.
07/12 - Windsor Ag Fair fetes 35 years: The Windsor Agricultural Fair celebrates its 35th year in Springfield today and Sunday in Barlow's Field on Eureka Road.
07/11 - Teen arraigned on arson charge: Jon Gassert Jr., 18, pleaded innocent to a single felony count of first-degree arson and to an accompanying misdemeanor charge of reckless endangerment which together carry a minimum two year jail term upon conviction and potential maximum sentence of up to 11 years behind bars.
07/11 - Court records: Teen accused in fire had dispute with landlord: A disagreement over an air conditioner and an eviction notice allegedly led a Springfield teenager to start a fire that gutted the historic Ellis Block in downtown Springfield, according to documents filed in White River Junction District Court.
07/11 - Public funds may be needed to restore Ellis Block: If the Ellis Block is to return to its prominent role in Springfield's downtown after Tuesday night's devastating fire, the building's owners will likely require a helping hand from the public sector.
07/11- Shock, loss in fire's wake: Most lost everything but the clothes they were wearing when they ran out of the burning Ellis Block. That and their cell phones.
07/10 - Video: Springfield Fire Deemed Arson; 18-Year-Old Arrested: A fire in Springfield displaceing 22 families was intentionally set, officials determined.
07/10 - Video: Teen Pleads Innocent in Springfield Arson: Dozens of downtown residents left homeless by a five-alarm blaze are now trying to understand why their neighbor may have started the fire. An 18-year-old who lived in the historic building was arraigned Thursday on first-degree arson charges.
07/10- Teen charged in apartment fire: A Springfield teenager was arrested last night and charged with intentionally setting the five-alarm fire which ripped through the heart of Ellis Block building late Tuesday evening, leaving tenants from its 16 apartments homeless but uninjured.
07/09 - Huge fire in downtown Springfield: A five alarm fire last night gutted the Ellis Block in downtown Springfield.
07/09 - Photos: Downtown Springfield Fire: Fighting the late night fire with scenes of the aftermath the following morning.
07/09 - Photos: Springfield Blaze: Photos submitted by Springfield Residents
07/09 - Video: Springfield Ellis Block fire: Morning after scenes, without any commentary, showing first the rear of the destroyed roof being hosed down, then shots of bystanders in the streets followed by the scene in front of the building including close-ups of the theater exterior.
07/09 - Video:Springfield Blaze Leaves 22 Families Homeless: Twenty-two families are without homes after a fire ripped through a Springfield, Vt., apartment building Tuesday night, requiring about 100 firefighters to respond to the blaze, fire officials said.
07/09 - Video: Five-Alarm Fire Guts Historic Building: Water poured from the windows of the downtown brick building as more than 100 firefighters did their best to contain the fire.
07/09 - 76 Golfers Play for Alumni Association: SHSAA held its fifth annual golf tournament on Friday, June 27nd at Crown Point Country Club.
07/08 - Alleged arsonist now faces new charges: A Springfield man who allegedly set fire to a multi-unit apartment building back in January in order to get his girlfriend to leave has now been charged with kicking out the front door of the Merchants Bank.
07/06 - Hospital seeks grant to finance project into Fellows building: Springfield Hospital has applied for a $150,000 grant to support its plans to create a consolidated yet fully integrated medical practice in the former Fellows Gear Shaper building.
07/02 - Dogs involved in attack will be put down: The owner of two dogs accused of attacking and killing a greyhound will have the second dog euthanized at the request of the greyhound's owner.
07/01 - Hospital to lease space in Fellows: In a perfect matching of needs, the first new major tenant to sign on with developers of the former Fellows Gear Shaper building in Springfield will lease 30,000 square feet next year for an integrated primary care practice.
07/01 - Springfield man awarded Purple Heart: About a year ago, Kevin Jenkins experienced how explosive Iraq can be. Jenkins, a sergeant with the 131st Engineers unit of the Vermont Army National Guard, was "hunting" for IEDs, improvised explosive devices, in the Balad area of Iraq when one went off about 10 meters away.
07/01 - Guard honors two with Purple Hearts: Two National Guard soldiers, one from North Springfield and the other from Forest Dale, received Purple Hearts on Sunday morning for injuries they received last July while searching for unexploded roadside bombs in Iraq.
06/30 - Springfield garden a huge draw for plant lovers: They came from as far away as Michigan, Missouri and Virginia for a chance to walk down the wet paths of Glen Williams' fabulous hosta garden.
06/29 - Books headline Springfield parade: Townspeople celebrated their hometown and life in school Saturday with a gala parade up Main Street that featured dozens of antique cars and not-so-antique alumni of Springfield High School.
06/29 - Photos: 2008 Alumni Day Parade: 1958 float, Alumni King and Queen , Pirate clown , 1973 farm float , Kids grab up candy, Calvery Baptist Church float, Shriner's Arabian bandwagon.
06/26 - Budget on school plan looks better: The numbers are preliminary, but that is not stopping an architect involved in Springfield's elementary schools project from believing there will be enough money left over to cover consolidation plans.
06/25 - Town pulls for hurt biker: Last week, Joshua Aiken was returning home on his motorcycle from Bike Week in Laconia, N.H.
06/25 - Springfield honors retiring clerk: Milton Town Clerk John Cushing said an odd thing Tuesday night at the retirement dinner for Springfield's longtime Town Clerk Bonnie Reynolds.
06/25 - Windsor Ag Fair Schedule: If you're a fan of competitive "pulling," be that with Ponies, Oxen, Draft Horses, Tractors, or even 4x4 Trucks, the Windsor County Agricultural Fair is the place to be on Saturday and Sunday, July 12th and 13th.
06/24 - Photo: Good time at retirement dinner: Springfield Town Clerk Bonnie Reynolds shares a laugh with Town Manager Bob Forguites during a retirement dinner Tuesday night for Reynolds, who has been town clerk for 30 years. She will retire Monday.
06/23 - Springfield acts on nuisance house: The town of Springfield has given a New Jersey mortgage company 10 days to do something about an abandoned house on South Street.
06/22 - Springfield graduates face future with 'indomitable spirit': Springfield High School's 2008 graduates had one last day in the sun together Saturday.
06/19 - Gov. Douglas begins re-election tour: Saying he wants to be the common sense, middle-of-the-road candidate, Gov. Jim Douglas brought his re-election kickoff tour to Springfield Wednesday, where he was peppered with questions from local residents.
06/19 - Town to inspect compromised buildings: Two dilapidated and abandoned buildings and one partially collapsed one are going to be inspected to determine whether they are unsafe and a danger to the public.
06/19 - Brothers' fight leads to repeat charges: A Springfield man with three prior domestic assault convictions was back in court Tuesday for allegedly biting his brother.
06/18 - Woman hurt in 4-vehicle crash: A Springfield woman was injured Tuesday afternoon in a chain-reaction accident on the Chester Road that involved four vehicles.
06/18 - Kraft to challenge Emmons, Martin in Sept. primary: A Springfield School Board member and Springfield Hospital Foundation director threw his hat into the ring for the Vermont House Monday.
06/18 - Down(town) in the dumps: The empty spaces in downtown Springfield continue to grow. You know times are tough when the Marines pull out, after all.
06/13 - Community carnival slated for Springfield: Calvary Baptist Church will host a free community carnival at noon on Saturday, June 28 at Riverside Middle School as part of its 85th anniversary celebration.
06/11 - Springfield OKs school budget: It took three attempts, but the School Board finally presented the town's residents with a budget they could live with.
06/11 - School budget passes easily on third try: After two narrow defeats, a Springfield school budget received the voters' blessing Tuesday, much to the glee of school board Chairwoman Judy Edwards.
06/10 - Springfield votes on school budget today: Third try to pass spending plan.
06/10 - Third school budget vote today: School board Chairwoman Judy Edwards appeared to be speaking for the vast majority of Springfield residents Monday night.
06/09 - Stores vacate center of town: Businesses are on the move, but unfortunately their direction is out of downtown Springfield, members of Springfield On The Move learned Thursday.
06/07 - Official: Body has no ties to hospital: A Springfield Hospital official said Friday that a Perkinsville woman found dead in a van in the hospital's parking lot was not a hospital employee.
06/06 - Police ID body as Perkinsville woman: A 51-year-old Perkinsville woman has been identified by Springfield police as the body found in a vehicle parked at Springfield Hospital.
06/06 - Downtown vacancies on the rise in Springfield: The increasing number of empty storefronts in downtown Springfield has economic development officials wondering how best to address the situation.
06/05 - Body found in hospital parking lot: A decomposed body found in a car in a remote area of a parking lot at Springfield Hospital still hasn't been identified, according to Springfield police.
06/05 - New town clerk named: Brattleboro lawyer and lifelong Springfield resident has been named Springfield's new town clerk.
06/05 - Springfield school building panel faces continuing challenges: Construction delays, school expansion and the future of Park Street Elementary School are just some of the challenges faced by the recently appointed K-5 Building Committee.
06/04 - Board selling third school budget plan: The fliers are ready, the billboards will be out and the Springfield School Board is prepared to make the third attempt at getting a budget passed, the final one.
06/03 - Springfield OKs school consolidation: Plans for the consolidation of the town's elementary schools have begun, but the fate of Park Street School will be left to the newly appointed building committee.
06/02 - Board to tackle building issues: Building matters will be foremost in the Springfield School Board's mind Monday night, beyond the expected vote to consolidated grades K-4 into two schools and move fifth grade students to Riverside Middle School.
05/30 - Springfield nurse vying for MVP status in national contest: Kathleen Anderson is hoping history repeats itself in Springfield, with or without the pink frosted doughnuts.
05/30 - Police present anti-drinking message to Springfield kids: Students from River Valley Technical Center and Springfield High School learned the sobering lesson of the difficulties and the dangers of drunken driving during a simulation at the high school on Wednesday.
05/30 - Reporter experiences effects of drinking and driving: I cover cops, courts and crime in Windsor County and every Tuesday I review the arraignments in White River Junction District Court.
05/30 - Sobering lesson: Desirai Tarajkowski, a senior at Springfield High School, hits a cone in the parking lot at the school with Fatal Vision goggles provided by Springfield Police that simulate visual effects of drunkenness. About 400 students tried the goggles during a demonstration on the dangers of drunken driving.
05/27 - A growing honor for three who died in Iraq: The loss of three soldiers with Springfield ties weighed heavily on the hearts and minds of those in attendance for the town's Memorial Day observance.
05/23 - Road money coming to town from the state: A hefty portion of new state borrowing to boost the economy through road and bridge projects will be coming Springfield's way.
05/20 - Board sets 3rd school budget: The School Board might have been thinking the third time's a charm on Monday night when they approved a school budget with an additional $253,640 in cuts that will be presented to voters on June 10.
05/17 - Nicole's Walk helps wishes come true: Richard Labrecque has turned heartbreak into joy. For the past seven years, Labrecque has sponsored and organized a fundraising walk to benefit the Make-A-Wish Foundation, all in memory of his 3-year-old daughter Nicole, who died in 1991 from a rare form of liver cancer.
05/16 - Pedestrian struck in downtown, transferred to DHMC: A 78-year-old Springfield man believed to have been walking to town hall was struck by a vehicle Thursday afternoon in a crosswalk on Main Street in Springfield and was taken to the Dartmouth-Hitchock Medical Center for his injuries.
05/15 - Students protest ban on 'short shorts': Shouting "Honk if you love short shorts," a group of Springfield High School students kicked out for violating the school's dress code took their protest to the streets Wednesday morning.
05/15 - Video: Students Fight For Right To Short Shorts: Meredith Hunt and other Springfield High School students are protesting the school's dress code.
05/14 - Park Street School to close, chance of consolidation: By a margin of more than two to one, residents on Tuesday voted to cease using Park Street as an elementary school.
05/14 - Voters OK end of Park Street as a school: By a resounding margin, residents said it is time to stop using the Park Street Elementary School as a school, reversing a 2006 vote and starting down the path toward consolidating Springfield's three elementary schools into two.
05/13 - Today's vote to decide Park St.: The last public and televised debate before today's referendum on the future of the Park Street Elementary School focused on just that - the future of educating Springfield's children and perhaps more importantly how much it will cost.
05/11 - Rec center asking state to lower value to $550K - $700K: With a break on its education tax bill secured in the Legislature, the Southern Vermont Health and Recreation Center continued its appeal to lower its property value Friday morning.
05/11 - Springfield Printing Corp. gets $2.24M grant for press: Springfield Printing Corp. has installed "the most environmentally friendly press on the market," according to its co-owner and president, Mark Sanderson.
05/09 - Springfield center granted tax exemption: The Southern Vermont Recreation Center got a $20,000 tax break on its school tax bill from the just-adjourned 2008 Legislature, which granted it an exemption from the statewide education tax.
05/08 - Springfield Community Players take on 'Dancing at Lughnasa': Theatergoers will have the opportunity to unleash their inner pagans when the Springfield Community Players
05/08 - Planning commission will amend downtown changes to appease critics: Businesses and home owners in Springfield's designated downtown district have successfully convinced the planning commission to amend proposed changes that had many in the district irked.
05/08 - Alleged drug find jails Springfield man: A Springfield man who had been released from prison on furlough denied drug charges after police allegedly found cocaine and other drugs in his apartment.
05/07 - Student art show opens today: There are gaudily colored paintings and austere black-and-white photographs, ceramic pots and clay landscapes, historic collages and portraits: it's Springfield's annual student art show at the Miller Art Center.
05/06 - Consolidation plan, Park Street alternatives pitched: A week before the critical referendum on the future of the Park Street Elementary School, Superintendent Frank Perotti ran down his consolidated elementary schools plan with hints of what Park Street could be used for if residents vote to end its use as a school.
05/06 - School merger tops talk of night: Residents got a glimpse of what school consolidation would mean for them - both architecturally and financially - during a pair of presentations delivered during Monday night's school board meeting.
05/05 - Supreme Court keeps cottage in current use: Owners of a Springfield Christmas tree farm can keep a "Christmas Cottage" used as a sales office and warming hut in the current use program, the Vermont Supreme Court ruled on Friday.
05//04 - Confusion seen over referendum on Park Street: Officials are taking steps to clarify what would happen should the referendum to cease using the Park Street Elementary School as a school passes on May 13
05/03 - Photos: 2008 Apple Blossom Cotillion: Online gallery of the gala event featuring 70 photos.
05/02 - Apple Blossom Cotillion: Tonight and Saturday, 44 teenagers and 44 elementary school pupils will perform in the 52nd annual Apple Blossom Cotillion at Riverside Middle School, and if their dance steps appear flawless, it's the result of practice, practice, practice.
05/01 - United Ways come together to keep presence in county: The struggling United Way of Southern Windsor County is teaming up with the Lebanon, N.H.-based Upper Valley United Way in order to maintain a presence in its service area.
04/30 - Grafton resident to share Springfield zoning duties: A Grafton resident will be taking over the planning and zoning duties for longtime Springfield zoning administrator Linda Rousse, who plans on retiring at the end of June.
04/29 - Four schools fail to meet AYP: Four of five Springfield schools did not make adequate yearly progress for different reasons in tests taken last fall, according to results released by the Vermont Department of Education Monday.
04/28 - Man denies teen sex charges: A 23-year-old Springfield man has denied charges that he had sexual contact with a 15-year-old girl.
04/25 - Town moves to fix police dispute: A resolution to the ongoing labor dispute between Springfield Police Chief Douglas Johnston and the unionized police officers might be in the offing.
04/24 - Police union, town to resolve grievance face to face: The hostile work environment grievance filed in February by the Springfield police union against Chief Doug Johnston and the town will be addressed in face-to-face talks, not before the Vermont Labor Relations Board, at least for now.
04/23 - Board's rift goes on over Park St.: Weeks away from a referendum on the future of the Park Street Elementary School, divisions on how to proceed with the ongoing construction project continue to exist on the Springfield School Board.
04/25 - School budget priorities: When Springfield residents turned down a $23 million school budget for next year by less than 80 votes in March, the school board moved expeditiously to develop a new proposal and bring it before voters in early April.
04/25 - More Than 50 Could Take Offer of Early Retirement: A sizable number of instructors in the Springfield School District are eligible for the early retirement incentive approved by the school board earlier this week.
04/23 - It was all about the KIDS!!!: Gathered by the Springfield Area parent Child Center, SAPCC, and fueled by families with kids as the guest of honor, the Riverside Middle School was filled with booths - grazing stations for fun and learning - if you will, last Saturday.
04/22 - Board offers early retirement to select teachers: In an attempt to further reduce the budget for the Springfield School District, the School Board voted Monday night to offer $25,000 early retirement incentives to veteran teachers. By a 3 to 2 vote, the board decided to offer the incentive to teachers who have been with the district for at least 20 years.
04/22 - Renaissance man: Springfield painting contractor Justin Moulton was doing his best Michelangelo imitation recently, painting the ceiling of the historic Holy Trinity Orthodox Church in Springfield gold leaf, on his back, with pillows on top of scaffolding.
04/20 - Police sweep school for drugs: Springfield High School went into lockdown Friday morning while four drug sniffing police dogs made their way through the building.
04/19 - Employers, recruiters offer career day advice: This week at the Howard Dean Center at Springfield High School, more than 500 middle school pupils will participate in hands-on career demonstrations and perhaps learn that "it's cool to think about your future."
04/19 - Bellows Falls to host transit center: Connecticut River Transit announced Thursday that it had signed a contract to begin construction of a new facility in Bellows Falls in June.
04/16 - Fellows Gear Shaper building in line for $6M facelift: The 1896 Fellows Gear Shaper building, the dilapidated hulk that sits in the heart of downtown Springfield, will get a $6 million facelift, thanks to a group of Washington, D.C., developers.
04/15 - Video: New Life for Old Springfield Plant: Laughter filled the old Fellows Machine Tool plant in downtown Springfield. It represented the spirits of those on hand for Tuesday's press conference.
04/15 - Video: Springfield Landmark Gets New Look: Developers are giving a 6-million-dollar facelift to an iconic building.
04/15 - Vermont announces brownfields grants: A Maryland firm is in line for a $40,000 state grant to study pollution and contamination at the former Fellows Gear Shaper Co. plant in downtown Springfield.
04/15 - Police union sends letter to residents opposing the chief: The police officers' union took the unusual step of sending an open letter to Springfield residents this weekend, detailing their grievances with Police Chief Douglas Johnston and town management, and asking residents to call members of the Select Board with their concerns.
04/15 - Inmates don caps, gowns: For the six inmates and their friends, family and teachers it was a rare moment of happiness and accomplishment when they received their high school diplomas at the Southern State Correctional Facility on Monday.
04/15 - Don't be afraid to dream: Christopher Blanchard raised his right arm in triumph after a friend yelled, "Go Blanchard!" just before Blanchard switched his tassel over.
04/12 - Springfield OKs church steeple cell tower: Cell phone service in Springfield should improve, thanks to new equipment that will be installed in the steeple of the Holy Trinity Orthodox Church.
04/12 - Contractor charged with tax evasion: A Springfield man who is a self-employed contractor was charged with six felony counts of income tax offenses Thursday for allegedly not filing or paying Vermont taxes for the years 2004-2006.
04/09 - Town shoots down budget: For the second year in a row, residents have twice defeated the proposed budget for the Springfield School District.
04/09 - Longtime Springfield town clerk to step down: Bonnie Reynolds, who has been Springfield's town clerk for 30 years and plans to retire at the end of June, wonders who is going to inherit her distinctive antique oak partners desk, with its giant claw feet and ornate carving
04/08 - Springfield School Board votes for Park Street referendum: In a rare unanimous vote, the School Board adopted a motion to bring a referendum to the voters May 13 asking them to answer the question, "Shall the district cease the use of the Park Street School as a school as soon as possible?"
04/06 - A perfect fit 30 years town clerk: Bonnie Reynolds didn't want the job at first. Sitting behind her decorative "partners" desk discovered by former Town Manager Paul McCarthy, Reynolds said she had no intention of taking up Town Clerk Bernard "Bub" Emerson's offer to work as his assistant for a couple of weeks in the early 1970s.
04/01 - School Board OKs architecture talks: On Monday night the School Board moved one step closer to consolidating the town's elementary schools when it voted to begin negotiations to develop architectural plans to provide the space necessary for the consolidation to move forward.
03/31 - Woman denies court violation charges: A Springfield woman pleaded innocent Tuesday to charges that she violated court orders and tried to communicate with her husband, who is in jail and her co-defendant on conspiracy charges.
03/28 - Woman denies burglary charges: If convicted of the charges pending against her, a Springfield woman could face the possibility of life in prison. She is accused in the burglary of her former place of employment.
03/28 - Video: Bridge In Desparate Need Of Repair: Features Springfield public Works Director Harry Henderson and Johm Zicconi of Vermont Agency of Transportation.
03/26 - School Board approves unity plan: While the future of Park Street School remains uncertain, the School Board voted Monday night to make preparations to consolidate the town's elementary schools.
03/26 - Springfield's bridge of a different color: After being closed for three years, the historic Paddock Road Bridge is finally getting its $2.1 million renovation and facelift this spring.
03/25 - Springfield official calls for bridge repair: Public Works Director Harry Henderson said Monday he will invite the Agency of Transportation back to town to take another look at the seriously deteriorated Route 11 bridge near McDonald's restaurant.
03/22 - Park Street School rehab to top board agenda: With crumbling ceilings, exposed asbestos and failing plumbing, there is no doubt the condition of the Park Street School is dire. What repairs, if any, will be made and whether the school will remain open will be among the topics discussed at the upcoming school board meeting.
03/22 - Restaurateur reopens Springfield Royal Diner: Silvestre "Sly" Gallegos, the owner of "The Golden Egg," a homey restaurant in Saxtons River, has reopened the Springfield Royal Diner.
03/19 - Fourth of July fireworks on ice: Barring a miracle or a last-minute sugar daddy, the Springfield Fourth of July fireworks are cancelled this year.
03/19 - Revised Springfield budget set for voters: The Springfield School Board signed a warrant Monday asking residents once again to approve a school budget for fiscal year 2009.
03/17 - White-tailed deer meeting Wednesday: The Vermont Fish & Wildlife Department's annual meetings on the state's white-tailed deer herd will begin on Wednesday at the Riverside Junior High School with another meeting on Friday in Bennington.
03/17 - Springfield senior wins speech contest: Springfield High School Senior Aemelia Thompson was selected as the winner of the Springfield Rotary Club's "4-Way Test" Speech Contest.
03/12 - Teachers agree on 3-year contract: A week after voters narrowly defeated the proposed $23 million school budget, the Springfield School Board announced and ratified a three-year contract with the Springfield Teachers Association Monday evening.
03/12 - School Board to revise budget: Members of the Springfield School Board have set a target of less than a 5 percent increase when they review the defeated $23.1 million school budget before resubmitting it to voters.
03/12 - Snow brings down Springfield buildings: Winter is taking its toll not just on roads and spirits, but some industrial buildings with flat or unusual roofs.
03/12 - Video: Developers Offer New Affordable Housing: Features E J Cully owner of the Woolson Block, Tami Thomas of Apron Strings Cafe, Bill Mattoon of Black River Used Books.
03/04 - Springfield 'surprise' to spur sidewalk repairs: There was a $400,000 surprise at Springfield town meeting Monday. Town Manager Robert Forguites tried to take the sting out of the often-delayed downtown improvement project by announcing that the town had recently received another $400,000 in federal grants to add to the $1 million the town received five years ago.
03/01- Hopefuls focus on Springfield issues: The five candidates for the two open seats on the Springfield Select Board collectively offer a little something for everyone: They are lifelong residents and newcomers; retirees and young professionals, business owners and managers.