Local News Briefs: 12-31-07

The last of the Springfield Intruder news briefs for 2007…. * This weekend Mayor-elect Domenic Sarno announced his inauguration schedule for this coming January: * January 6th, 2008 – Celebratory Mass at Mount Carmel Church at 2:00pm, followed by a trip to Forest Park’s Cyr Arena for free skating. * January 7th, 2008 – Inauguration [...]

Written on December 31, 2007 | Posted in Cities & Towns,Feature Stories,Politics | 2 comments

Reminder: Auction to be Held on Juanary 17

The City of Springfield will be auctioning off 24 city-owned properties on Thursday, January 17, 2008, according to its website. The auction, to be conducted by Daniel J. Flynn & Co., Inc., will be held “ball-room style” at City Hall, starting at 6:00pm. (Registration starts at 5:00pm.) According to the Flynn Auctions flyer [pdf], the [...]

Written on December 28, 2007 | Posted in Cities & Towns,City Hall,Feature Stories | Comments Off

Massachusetts: $450 Million and Holding

Seeking to divert some state-held “rainy day” funding to local cities and towns, Massachusetts state representatives are putting up a bill that would transfer $450,000,000 into the state’s General Fund, which would then be disbursed to communities throughout the state. From a December opinion article in the Worcester Telegram & Gazette, State Representative and House [...]

Written on December 28, 2007 | Posted in Politics | 6 comments

They Killed Her

Benazir Bhutto is dead. Radicals bent on slavery and filled with hate have killed her. The scourge of militant Islam has once again scarred our civilization, this time striking down a brave woman who dared to promise democracy and freedom. It matters not who planned her death – opposition radicals, ruling party loyalists, or Al [...]

Written on December 27, 2007 | Posted in Feature Stories | 4 comments

Polito Gets Canned

When John J. Gormally Jr. bought the local television station, Channel 40, there was a lot of hand-clapping and “hurrahs” going on around these parts. Folks were glad that a local guy was taking the helm of a news station that for so many years had been commandeered by the conservative Sinclair Broadcasting. Well, maybe [...]

Written on December 22, 2007 | Posted in Cities & Towns,Feature Stories | 6 comments

Ryan’s Last Hurrah

Thursday’s (Dec. 20) Finance Control Board meeting marked Mayor Charles V. Ryan’s last appearance there as a member of that board. On January 7th, 2008, the keys to the mayor’s office will be turned over to Domenic Sarno, the winner of last November’s election. The most noteworthy portion of the meeting was the announcement of [...]

Written on December 21, 2007 | Posted in Cities & Towns,City Hall,Feature Stories,Society | Comments Off

No Go, Joe

On Wednesday, the Springfield Republican reported that Springfield Schools Superintendent Joseph Burke has been taken out of consideration for the state education commissioner’s job that he applied for two weeks ago. Frankly, this is not exactly shocking news. It seems the only people who think Burke’s job performance is up to par are those folks [...]

Written on December 19, 2007 | Posted in Cities & Towns,City Hall,Feature Stories,Politics | Comments Off

Spfld Water Main Break – The Photos

Below are some photographs taken last night (Tuesday) by Mike Cass, program manager for the City of Springfield’s graffitti remediation program, and submitted to the Springfield Intruder. The break occurred on East Columbus Avenue, by Court Street, close by the Springfield Symphony Hall. Thanks much to Mike. More details on the break and repair work [...]

Written on December 19, 2007 | Posted in Cities & Towns,Feature Stories | Comments Off