Local News Briefs & Tidbits: 02-27-08

Well, February has come upon us, and now it’s almost gone. 2008 is humming along as fast as 2007 went by, and that means it’ll soon be time to break out the golf clubs. Until then, it’s more glum news from the usual sources.

Written on February 27, 2008 | Posted in Cities & Towns,Elections,Feature Stories,Podcasts,Politics,Society | 2 comments

Down & Out in Downtown Springfield

Owning a Restaurant at the Epicenter of the City is Risky Business January 1st, 2007 A shooting at the Kennedy Fried Chicken on Main Street, Springfield, in the early morning hours of New Year’s Day ushered in another year of living precariously for the downtown area’s troubled restaurant scene. In Kennedy’s particular case, its [eventual] [...]

Written on February 26, 2008 | Posted in Cities & Towns,Society | 10 comments

Stebbins Seeks Meeting on Downtown Parking

Springfield City Councilor Bruce Stebbins issued a press release this weekend calling for a meeting between the Council’s Planning & Economic Development Committee, the Springfield Parking Authority, and their new contractor, Republic Parking System.

Written on February 24, 2008 | Posted in Cities & Towns,City Hall | 1 comment

Insurrection on the School Committee

On February 1st of this year the Union News Springfield Republican reported that four members of the city’s School Committee – Kenneth Shea, Thomas Ashe, Michael Rodgers, and newcomer Chris Collins – all voted to extend the contract of failed School Superintendent Joseph Burke. School Committee members Antonette E. Pepe, Marjorie J. Hurst, and Committee [...]

Written on February 21, 2008 | Posted in Cities & Towns,City Hall,Feature Stories,Opinion,Politics | 5 comments

The Cult of Obama’s Personality

Democratic presidential contender Barack Obama has a way of wooing folks who otherwise might be a bit more discerning in their choices for representation and leadership. As a politician, in fact, his voting record is rather pedestrian and typical of his Democratic roots. But it’s his role as a showman and speaker, with his skill [...]

Written on February 21, 2008 | Posted in Elections,Opinion,Politics | Comments Off

Lunchtime with Jim Polito

Bookending Tommy Devine’s breakfast encounter with Jim Polito, I took a little time out for lunch with the guy… On Tuesday afternoon, former abc40 News reporter Jim Polito met up with me for lunch over at Max’s Tavern in Springfield. Our original meeting time was for 1:00pm, but Polito got held up a bit and [...]

Written on February 20, 2008 | Posted in Opinion | 6 comments

Barack Obama: “Yes, I do!”

Repeat after Deval Patrick: “YES, WE CAN change.. [add your own subject]!” That’s what Democratic presidential candidate Barack Obama has done on several occasions, and so too has Patrick retreaded Obama’s campaign slogans from the past. The two politicians are “long-time” friends, as Patrick puts it, who often exchange ideas and speech content. They also [...]

Written on February 19, 2008 | Posted in Elections,Opinion,Politics | 1 comment

Downtown on Valentine’s Day

Finally, a warm day outside without that nagging snow or rain to go along with it. And so out comes the camcorder for a quick stroll around downtown Springfield…. * *

Written on February 15, 2008 | Posted in Videos | Comments Off