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Harshbarger Rallies for Anti-casino Side
Casino opponents in the city have had a hard time getting their message out, given the staggeringly lopsided nature of the battle between them and the deep-pocketed MGM. But tomorrow night, the anti-casino side will get a high-profile boost, via an appearance by...Where Are Court Square's Benches?
On the heels of the contretemps over the city of Northampton’s (since-reversed) decision to remove public benches from its downtown, Channel 22 reporter Laura Hutchinson has asked questions about the benches that were removed from Court Square eight years ago....Pride Celebrates DOMA Ruling
The Springfield Pride committee will celebrate the Supreme Court’s marriage-equality decisions with a rally and reception today. At noon, the group will hold a rally and press conference at City Hall. Then, at 5:30, there will be a community reception, also at...The Never-ending Residency Fight
Will the City Council ever pass a new employee-residency ordinance? It’s not looking good, at least after the most recent drama over the plan. Last week, Council President Jimmy Ferrera tried to link the proposal to the city budget, calling for the salaries of...City Loses a Piece of History
Efforts to save the historic Allis Mansion at Mercy Medical Center have come to naught. Last week, the Sisters of Providence Health System announced that it was proceeding with plans to demolish the Victorian home to make way for parking at a $20 million medical...Two Editorials, Zero Surprises
This weekend, the Springfield Republican endorsed City Hall’s host-community agreement with MGM, calling on voters to approve the South End casino proposal on next week’s ballot question. Did anyone ever doubt that the Republican would endorse the plan?...Casino Vote Still On; Opponents Keep Fighting
A last-ditch effort by casino opponents to delay next week’s vote on the city’s agreement with MGM has failed. Citizens Against Casino Gaming had appealed to the state’s Gaming Commission to delay the July 16 vote, arguing that the public process...Two Casino Events Today, Pro and Con
This evening the opposition group Citizens Against Casino Gaming will host a public discussion on next week’s ballot question on MGM’s proposed casino. The event will take place at 7 p.m. at the home of member Colleen Moynihan, at 15 Birchland Ave. in...That's Right: More Casino News
With the vote on the city’s community agreement with MGM just a few days away, it’s getting hard to keep on top of all the casino-related news. But I’ll give it a shot: The Springfield Chamber of Commerce has endorsed the MGM plan, citing—you...Rally Over Zimmerman Verdict Tonight
There’ll be a candlelight vigil and rally at Court Square this evening to protest the acquittal of George Zimmerman in the death of Trayvon Martin and to call on the U.S. Department of Justice to pursue civil-rights violation charges against Zimmerman. The...Just How Big Was MGM's Victory?
Maybe I’m just a spoilsport—certainly, I’m a certified Fan of the Underdog—but I hear a lot of sense in Michael Kogut’s argument that MGM’s victory at the polls yesterday wasn’t all that resounding a win. MGM, of course,...Rally for a Higher Minimum Wage
On Wednesday, labor and social activists will rally outside the Dunkin’ Donuts at 568 Belmont Ave., as part of a national day of action in support of raising the minimum wage. The event takes place from 3 to 4 p.m. Earlier in the day, activists will also gather...Sarno Wants More Time on Pot Dispensaries
Add Springfield to the list of communities nervous about the possibility of a medical-marijuana dispensary opening in town. Earlier this week, Mayor Domenic Sarno announced that he wants the city Planning Board to impose a moratorium on allowing any dispensaries in...Gun Control Hearing in Town Friday
This fall, the state Legislature is expected to take up the issue of gun-control laws. But before that happens, lawmakers are holding a series of public hearings around the state. Tomorrow, they’ll meet in Springfield. The timing couldn’t be better, given...Fall Races Are Set
It looks like this fall will see some interesting races for City Council. Last week was the deadline for submitting nomination papers to the Elections Commission, and all 13 incumbent councilors did. (So did all six School Committee members whose seats are up this...Hurst Broaches the Forbidden Topic: Casino
The MGM casino proposed for the South End just might be the biggest development project the city has ever seen. So with the fall elections just around the corner, why are so few City Council candidates even talking about it? Sure, the incumbent councilors have all...Candidates, Start Your Engines
Summer’s drawing to a close, which means this fall’s crop of political candidates are gearing up for the height of campaign season. City Council candidate Ernesto Cruz kicks off his campaign tonight at 6 p.m. with an event at Cedars Banquet Facility, at...No Ants Invited
For the past 10 days, a group of local artists and students has been hard at work at the Springfield Museums and the People’s United Bank building on Main Street, transforming ordinary picnic tables into works of art. On Sunday, their creations will be unveiled...Gay-rights Lawsuit Proceeds
Stephanie Barry has an update in today’s Republican on the lawsuit against Scott Lively, the controversial anti-gay minister who moved into the city several years ago. Lively is being sued by a coalition of gay-rights groups in Uganda for “the decade-long...Sarno Calls Judges to Crime Talks
In the wake of a number of violent incidents in the city over the past few months, Mayor Domenic Sarno is looking to bring the local courts into ongoing public safety discussions. The mayor has invited Bill Boyle, first justice of Springfield District Court (and a...Dukakis on Death Penalty; Springfield Gets its Own ComicCon
Today is the 86th anniversary of the execution of Nicola Sacco and Bartolomeo Vanzetti. And, as it does every year, the Hampden County Chapter of Massachusetts Citizens Against the Death Penalty, along with the Springfield Diocese Catholic Charities Agency, will hold...The Power of Comics
I’m not much of a comic book reader; my experience is pretty much limited to the occasional “Richie Rich” and (Lord help me) “Archie” in my childhood, then, 25 years later, the excellent Persepolis graphic novels and Real Cost of Prisons...March in Springfield
Maybe you didn’t have the time or resources to travel to D.C. last weekend for the 50th anniversary of the March on Washington. But that doesn’t mean you can’t mark the historic event. Tomorrow—Aug. 28, the date of the original march—the...Reminder's Dobbs Queries MGM Losses
Should those folks counting on a casino to be Springfield’s economic savior be worried about the big losses posted recently by MGM? Not at all, an MGM executive insists in a recent interview with the Reminder’s Mike Dobbs. As Dobbs reports, MGM Resorts...Mattoon Arts Fest This Weekend
The Mattoon Streets Arts Festival is the longest-running event of its kind in the Valley, according to organizers. This year’s festival—the 41st—will feature the work of about 100 painters, photographers, fiber artists, ceramicists and other artists...Monday Rally Targets Pipeline Investment
Protestors will gather outside the TD Bank at 1441 Main St. on Monday, Sept. 9, at noon to draw attention to the bank’s investments in the controversial Keystone pipeline and “worsening climate change,” in the words of organizers. The protestors will...City Loses Former Mayor Dimauro
Former Mayor Teddy Dimauro will be waked tomorrow evening, then buried on Wednesday after a funeral mass at Our Lady of Mount Carmel. Dimauro, a lawyer who served as mayor from 1978 to 1984 (and, before that, as a School Committee member and city councilor) died last...Two Down; One Casino Vote to Go
So the folks at MGM must be feeling pretty good today, right? Yesterday, voters in West Springfield eliminated one of MGM’s two competitors for the one casino license to be awarded in western Mass. By a margin of 55 to 45 percent, West Side voters sent Hard Rock...Ward 1 Candidate Forum Tonight
Ward 1 is seeing an especially lively election season this year, with incumbent City Councilor Zaida Luna facing three challengers: Jose Claudio and Miguel Rivas, both politically active residents of the North End, and Stephen Daly, who works for the city school...Puerto Rican Parade is Sunday
On Sunday, the Puerto Rican Cultural Center hosts the city’s 2013 Puerto Rican Parade. The parade kicks off at noon at Watson Avenue and Main Street, with marchers heading down Main to Boland Way—but get there a little early for a good spot, especially...Wards 1 and 5 Vote Today
There are preliminary elections in just two city wards today, but they’re juicy ones: in Ward 1, incumbent Councilor Zaida Luna faces challengers Jose Claudio, Stephen Daly and Miguel “Mike” Rivas. And in Ward 5, incumbent Clodo Concepcion is being...Making Friends in City Hall
Hey, look, the city now has its own Facebook page. Sure, it’s a little behind the curve—other local communities have been Facebooking it up for awhile now—but, hey, part of Springfield’s charm is its traditional nature. (Of course, that’s...Former School Committee Members Rally Around Hurst
Well, School Committee member Denise Hurst is certainly bringing out the big guns in her re-election campaign. Hurst, a first-term at-large member of the committee, is holding a fundraiser this evening at the Cedars banquet hall, where the hosts will include a number...On Violence in the City
In response to recent incidents of violent crime in the city—including three murders over a one-week period—the Spring of Hope Church of God in Christ is holding an emergency meeting this evening. The event, called “The Violence Must Stop,”...Protestors: No Ordinances, No Mayoral Raise
It’s been more than two years since the City Council approved unanimously a pair of ordinances designed to address the problems caused by the high number of foreclosures in the city. But the regulations still haven’t gone into effect. So this evening, a...Surprise! City Councilors Want a Raise
Wait, am I the only one who was a little caught off guard by the City Council’s vote the other night to give themselves a raise? Going into Monday’s meeting, the big news—besides the rally to pressure the Sarno administration to finally implement...Things to Do: For Peace, History and the Environment
Have you made it to any of the Springfield’s Library’s Peacefull City events? If not, there’s still time. Today there’s a discussion about starting a neighborhood watch program; it starts at noon at the East Springfield branch. Tomorrow, the...Viva la revolución
Hey, who’s the young radical in this video interview on Masslive saying, “Capitalism isn’t working for the masses”? Why, it’s former City Solicitor Pete Fenton. Fenton was one of several people stopped in downtown Springfield the other...Newsiness
• Kari Njiiri of NEPR (so are we not saying “WFCR” anymore? I’m always to last to know these things) reports on a $100,000 federal grant the Springfield schools just received for a super-sounding project: creating gardens in city schools. •...Who's Up for a Debate?
Well, we’ve reached that point in the election season when the challengers call for candidates’ debates and the incumbents nervously try to avoid eye contact with anyone even broaching the idea. Earlier this week, Justin Hurst, a candidate for an at-large...Give Food, Give Thanks
It’s that time of year when Bax & O’Brien show that, all evidence from the other 362.83 days of the year notwithstanding, they are, in fact, real sweethearts. At six o’clock this morning, the Rock 102 pair kicked off the 2013 “Mayflower...The Parading Dead
Listen, I don’t quite get the whole zombie mania; give me a moody, tortured werewolf any day. But the people have spoken, and they love their spooky guys with decaying flesh and a taste for brains. If you’re on board with the whole zombie thing, check out...Cathedral Kids Call on Diocese to Rebuild
A group of Cathedral High School students has launched an on-line petition calling on the Springfield Diocese to rebuild the school at its long-time home on Surrey Road. Cathedral’s campus was badly damaged by the freak tornado that hit the city in June of 2011....Politics, Insight & Coffee
Matt Szafranski, the man behind the blog Western Mass Politics & Insight, will be speaking about the upcoming election and city politics tonight at 7 p.m. at Sal’s Bakery, at 513 Belmont Ave. The bakery’s owner, Sal Circosta, has a vested interest in...Light Up Springfield
If you’re looking for something to do to shake off your turkey torpor (‘cause I know you’re not at the mall, for Pete’s sake), go check out the Holiday Wonderland at the Quadrangle. The day includes performances, holiday-themed exhibits...Medical-marijuana Plan Moves Forward
City Hall is moving ahead with developing an approval process for prospective medical-marijuana dispensaries in the city. Two groups have applied to open facilities in Springfield and received initial approval from the Mass. Department of Public Health, which is...Arieti Retires Quietly
Bob Arieti, who’s served as chief aide to the City Council since, I’m pretty sure, the Caleb Rice administration, has quietly retired. On Friday afternoon, Arieti sent an email to city councilors informing them that that was his last day on the job....Vote. Just Be Smart About It
Don’t you hate reading articles the day after Election Day about how crummy voter turnout was in the city? Me, too. So please, vote today. Unless, that is, you’re one of those people who picks a candidate because your kids went to school with his kids, or...Weinergate, the Sequel; Remembering Napolitan
This afternoon, the City Council’s Public Health and Safety Committee will take up again the question of regulating food trucks in the city. You’ll remember that the issue (which, frankly, seemed mostly like a non issue) was all over the news a few years...Shake It Up
Well, for a ostensibly quiet election season—no mayoral race; uncontested races in a number of wards—things turned out to be fairly hot at the polls yesterday, didn’t they? The final body count: two incumbent city councilors and two incumbent School...MGM Works on Deals With Neighbors
MGM has negotiated a “mitigation agreement” with Ludlow, guaranteeing that town an annual payment of $75,000 a year if the company opens a casino in Springfield. The Ludlow Select Board approved the deal earlier this week. The agreement also includes a...Ferrera Out, Fenton In
City Council President Jimmy Ferrera’s seat hasn’t yet gotten cold—in fact, he’ll be sitting in it through next month—but the next Council president is already lined up and ready to assume the gavel. Yesterday, Ward 2 Councilor Mike...Curran Won't Run for Re-election
State Rep. Sean Curran, who is now in his fifth term (I know; I can’t believe it’s been that long, either), has announced that he won’t run for re-election next year. “When I was elected to my first term in 2004, I was optimistic that public...Bloggers Weigh in on Election Results
Last week, I lamented the lack of political endorsements by some of my favorite local bloggers. But patience pays off. First up: Tom Devine’s post-election analysis, at his Pioneer Valleyist blog. Devine calls the shocking defeat of the casino proposal in Palmer...Considering Springfield's Tech Past and Future
Last month, a group of city residents and students spent a day traveling around the city as part of the Futurescape City Tours project, which encourages people to think about how new technology can shape their community’s future. The program, funded by the...Hurst Claims School Committee Vice Chair
With Election Day now in the rearview mirror, the City Council and School Committee are busy shifting seats and gearing up for next year. Last week, it was Ward 2 City Councilor Mike Fenton announcing that he had secured the votes to become the Council’s next...Out Now Honored for Justice Work
Out Now, Springfield’s LGBTQ youth group, has been recognized for its work—summed up in its motto: “Don’t Hate: Liberate!”—by the makers of an acclaimed documentary about the bullying of a gay teen. The group was named the 2013...Casino Opponents Call for Recusal
With the Mass. Gaming Commission poised to decide on MGM’s proposed South End casino—the vote is expected to happen sometime this week—a group that opposes the project has called on Commission member Bruce Stebbins, a one-time city councilor and City...Preservation Trust Seeks Nominees for Endangered List
On the heels of the City Council’s vote on Monday to create an automatic demolition delay on old properties in the city (you can read Pete Goonan’s story about the new ordinance here, and my coverage in next week’s Advocate), the Springfield...E-Edition
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