Lighting of the Town Christmas Tree, 2012

Santa arrived in downtown Springfield at 5:30 p.m. today to greet children and throw the switch lighting up the town tree.

2012 'Beyond the Unicorn' Craft Fair

The 33rd edition of this annual Christmas season event takes place this Saturday, December 1 from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Admission is free. More than 85 crafters plus food, children's activities and more. The fair benefits the Springfield High School Alumni Association.
Location: Riverside Middle School, 13 Fairground Road, Springfield, VT

Author spotlights tiny village in Vermont

“The people of Baltimore are a bunch of characters,” says Steven Aikenhead. He's written a book about the tiny town bordering North Springfield. The book is $5 with proceeds going to a Baltimore charity.

Pass the syrup, but religion gets sticky in secular Vermont

The faithful persevere in the nation's least religious state, reporting from Springfield, Vt. (update)

FEMA ruling may prove costly

A ruling this week by the Federal Emergency Management Agency could reduce considerably the federal assistance on tap for Vermont’s post-Irene recovery. Springfield's Rep. Alice Emmons said that regardless of the level of FEMA assistance, plans for the recovery will proceed unchanged.

Stories from a Small Village

Vermont's smallest township is the subject of a new book from author Steve Aikenhead. “There Really is a Baltimore... VERMONT” is hot off the press and available at several local outlets.

Opinion: Biomass disaster is no coincidence

How many “coincidences” do we have to have before the public realizes that those pushing the biomass project in North Springfield are trying to sell us a bill of goods.

Opinion: Shut down Vermont Yankee

The Public Service Board is holding hearings around Vermont seeking input for their docket on whether or not to grant Vermont Yankee nuclear power plant a new certificate of public good to continue operating.

Select Board Meeting - 11/26/2012

The minutes of the Springfield Select Board meeting held November 26th.

To catch a thief

The Springfield Police Department is looking to identify the male subject in the image above captured by a security camera in Jasinki's Market on Park Street. He is believed to have been involved in a theft of a large quantity of cigarettes. Anyone knowing the identity of the subject above is encouraged to contact Sgt. Molgano at the Springfield P.D. 802-885-2113.

Harpoon Brewery highlight of SRDC meeting

The Springfield Regional Development Corporation held its annual meeting at Harpoon Brewery’s Windsor facility on Monday. Harpoon Brewery CEO Daniel Kenary spoke of the positive impact of public-private partnerships.

Showing up at court for DUI trial with alcohol on breath is frowned upon

A North Springfield man who showed up at the front door of the Windsor County Courthouse smelling of alcohol Tuesday morning to answer a pair of drunken driving charges ended up going straight out the back door to jail.

Sports team sports pink

The Cosmos girls soccer team pose just before their third annual breast cancer awareness soccer game last month. This year the team raised over $600 for breast cancer research.

VIFL proposes new alignments

The new alignment for the 2013 and 2014 Vermont Interscholastic Football League seasons won't be a seismic shift, but it promises to be something more than a tweak.

Lovejoy Tool purchases new 5 axis manufacturing machine

Lovejoy Tool Company hase added a new Hermle 5 axis machining center to their manufacturing facility in Springfield. The Hermle is a state of the art machine.

21-year-old sold heroin from parents' home, police say

A 21-year-old Springfield man who allegedly sold heroin from his bedroom on the second floor of his parents' house, with his customers reportedly greeting his parents on their way upstairs, is now facing multiple felony charges.

'Landlords and Leases' seminar

Landlords in the Springfield area who might want some tips on how to deal with troublesome tenants are invited to a seminar Wednesday morning in downtown Springfield.

Opinion: Springfield is taking a gamble

The biomass power plant proposed for Springfield is out of line with the Springfield Town Plan. And now the Springfield Select Board is preparing to change the town plan.

Opinion: Lessons from old times

The Vermont of the Great Depression was far more rural and far poorer in material terms than today’s Vermont, but as we gradually emerge from the Great Recession, we might gain by reflecting on the effect economic pressures have on community and our outlook on life.

Of Mists and Mountains

I have been remembering all the trips that we used to make, when we were children, to Springfield (Vermont) to spend Thanksgiving with my Grandmother.

Video: 'Gangnam Style' parody promotes shopping local

"I'm not saying everyone should come from around the country and shop in Rockingham," Smith explained. "I'm saying people from Springfield should shop in Springfield. People from Burlington should shop in Burlington."

Springfield police chief asks for more help

Springfield Police Chief Douglas Johnston has asked for additional staffing in the new town budget to address increasing crime in town

Preparations begin for community Thanksgiving dinner

Springfield’s version of the Three Musketeers were hard at work Tuesday afternoon, peeling more than 85 pounds of butternut squash.

Wild turkeys hanging out at the long vacant National Guard Armory in North Springfield.

Jailhouse recordings keep alleged shooter behind bars

Two jailhouse recordings that appeared to catch a reputed gang member saying that Vermont towns were easy pickings and that things could “get ugly” at any time may have dashed his hopes for pre-trial release.

Springfield man accused of attempted murder requests lower bail

A Springfield man charged with attempting to murder a man in broad daylight boasted in phone calls from prison that the shooting was only the “beginning” of a plan to exert influence in town, according to recordings played in court.

Opinion: No terrorists in VINE

For the record: VINE Sanctuary is a nonviolent, nonprofit organization that has neither perpetrated nor condoned any sort of threat against Green Mountain College or any other entity.
And from PETA, here's this: Dead animals vs. dead plants

NH man drove 40 Miles with teen inside truck's tool box

A New Hampshire man has been charged with cruelty for allegedly putting his 17 year old son in his truck bed toolbox for a ride from Springfield, Vt. to Bradford, N.H.

Opinion: Tough Springfield school budget

After reading Friday's article on the Springfield school budget, I felt it was important to clarify both the process the administration took in creating our budget request and the actual product itself.

Students help child in need

Students from a service group at Weathersfield School in Ascutney are on a mission to help a young boy with a devastating illness enjoy the simple gift of life.

2 million dollar bridge completed

After seven long months as a dead end road, North Springfield's Main Street is back to being fully passable again.

Men moving deer off road struck, 1 dead

Police say two men trying to move a deer that had been struck off a highway were hit by another car, and one of the men has died.

Police log

Recent arrests logged by the Springfield Police Department.

11-year-old organizes fundraiser

A Springfield boy is hosting a basketball tournament this Saturday to raise money to support development efforts in Africa.

School budget cuts looming in Springfield

The Springfield School District has a tough road ahead: It must approve a balanced budget for Town Meeting Day without going over the state-mandated threshold for per pupil spending.

Select Board Meeting - 11/12/12

The minutes of the Select Board Meeting held November 12th.

Fire damages Wall Street home in Springfield

A home at 180 Wall Street was severely damaged by fire early Wednesday morning.

One of the new smart meters had just been installed on the house earlier in the week.

For fires that are ‘unexplained’ or termed electrical in nature, fire inspectors should check whether smart meters were installed recently.  emfsafetynetwork.org

Karaoke For David’s House

On Saturday, November 17, you can sing for a great cause, enjoy being in the limelight, and you may win the contest.

20th annual Festival of Trees

Come out this Friday evening and enjoy the Springfield Garden Club's 20th annual Festival of Trees, "A Homecoming Christmas".

Opinion: Spying and the next generation internet

According to ex-CIA chief David Petraeus, the emergence of an “Internet of Things” constitutes a “treasure trove” that will transform the face of spy craft as we know it.

Man admits to setting woman’s apartment on fire

To avoid a lengthy prison sentence, a Springfield man reached a plea deal Tuesday for setting a woman’s apartment on fire.

2 teenagers arrested on deer poaching charges

The Vermont Department of Fish and Wildlife says a teenager is facing deer poaching charges that he and a juvenile shot a 4-point buck at night in Springfield.

GMC official: Animal rights activists 'terrorized' every slaughterhouse in the state

In the end, Lou met his end in neither a slaughterhouse nor a sanctuary. The Green Mountain College-owned ox, which became the cause célèbre of animal rights advocates across the globe, was euthanized.

Drivers strike deer on I-91

Two motorists struck a deer in two separate incidents on Interstate 91 on Friday.

Police log

Recent incidents, arrests and service calls logged by the Springfield Police Department.

Haley Gibbons of Springfield poses with her first deer that she got on November 4. At only 10 years old, she is the youngest member of her family ever to get a deer.

Tyler Thomas poses with the 139-pound, eight-point buck he shot during Vermont Youth Hunting Weekend in Springfield earlier this month. Tyler is the son of Wayne and Karin Thomas.

Vt. gas prices continuing to decline

The price of gasoline is continuing to go down in Vermont.

Lou, half of Green Mountain College’s famous oxen pair, has died

Lou, the ailing half of Green Mountain College’s now famous yoke of Guernsey oxen of Bill and Lou, has died.

L o u i s d e a d

Green Mountain College euthanized one its farm oxen Sunday that have been at the center of an uproar over the college's decision to process the animals into meat.

 Lou being tended to by Alison Putnam (left) and Meiko Lunetta
Photo by Caleb Kenna for the Boston Globe

Voters to winners: Make peace not politics

Ask Election Day voters from Brattleboro to Burlington what the winners need to do now and the answer is unanimous, according to interviews in seven major cities and towns: Get the state and nation’s houses — and senates — in order.

New Exhibition at the Great Hall opens

If Vermont had an artist laureate, Sabra Field would be it. Field’s landscape woodblock prints have captured the soul of Vermont for decades.
Photo from opening night

Woman admits to dognapping

A dognapping incident from the Springfield Humane Society resulted in a New York resident pleading guilty to petty larceny on Thursday.

MVL soccer, fieldhockey stars named

Players named to All-Marble Valley League teams in boys and girls soccer, and field hockey.

The First Twins of Springfield

A special pair turned 90 years old this week.

Survey says: Vt. voters come out for Obama

National concerns trump state, local contests. Think globally, act locally? In Vermont this Election Day, it was instead vote locally, think nationally.

Empty Bowl Dinner

Springfield High School Arts Academy and the River Valley Technical Center's Culinary Program Cordially invite you to the Fifth Annual Empty Bowl Dinner on November 7th from 5-7PM.

Windsor County election results

Senate, House, and Weathersfield Ballot Item.

Springfield Vermont election results

The unofficial vote totals as announced by the Town Clerk at about 8 p.m. Write-in votes were counted up later and are not included here.

PETA wants public slaughter of oxen

The animal rights group People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals have asked Green Mountain College administrators to allow the public to see the slaughter of the college’s two oxen, Bill and Lou.

Election Day finally here

Polls are open to Springfield registered voters today from 8:00 a.m.to 7:00 p.m. at Riverside Middle School. Forecast is sunny, but with a high temperature of only around 39. Winds calm.

Windsor County Senator Dick McCormack (D-Bethel) in Springfield yesterday continued his afternoon sign holding and waving well past sunset.

Not to be outdone, Paul Gibbs, one of McCormack's Republican challengers, was also out at the Shopping Plaza intersection past sunset.  Gibbs is a long-time Springfield resident and an Army veteran.

Animal rights groups block slaughter of Green Mountain College oxen by pressuring local slaughterhouses

For Green Mountain College’s longtime oxen team, Bill and Lou, a trip to the slaughterhouse has been postponed.

Randy Brock in Springfield election eve

Republican candidate for Governor Randy Brock finished up months of pre-election day campaigning tonight. Last stop -- Springfield.   www.randybrock.com/bio

Montpelier extends string, blasts Cosmos

Montpelier goalie Tess Lawson had a singular focus throughout Saturday’s 8-0 Division II championship victory over Springfield.

Police officer challenges Welch for his seat in Congress

A former Springfield police officer believes he has a chance to beat three-term incumbent U.S. Rep. Peter Welch.

Candidates crowd race for Windsor County Senate

The Windsor County Senate election is crowded this year with three Democrats and three Republicans on the ballot and three seats available.

The Smart Meters are coming! The Smart Meters are coming!

Over the past year and a half, Vermont power companies have been busy installing the controversial devices in communities throughout the state while curiously leaving Springfield out... until now.

Video: Meet your new Smart Meter

An official from the Vermont Health Department joins two representatives of Vermont power companies to explain some of the benefits and risks associated with the Smart Meter.

Video: Checking out Green Mountain Power's new Smart Meters

A radio frequency detector permits anyone to investigate two smart meter safety claims made by Vermont utility companies: 1) They transmit only a few times a day. 2) The RF radiation is indistinguishable from background RF more than 3 feet away.

How to keep your safe, reliable present electric meter

Benefits of Analog Meters vs. Smart Meters	ANALOG	"SMART"
Radio frequency radiation exposure	NO	YES
Part of a blanket network that blankets community with RF radiation	NO	YES
Health complaints	NO	YES
AAEM physician's association warnings on health effects	NO	YES
Leading scientists and health professionals concerned about health effects	NO	YES
Privacy Intrusion	NO	YES
Hackable	NO	YES
Utility collects personal use data	NO	YES
Data on your personal energy use may be provided to 3rd parties	NO	YES
Can cause "dirty electricity" emissions on wiring	NO	YES
Can be used to power down or shut off your appliances	NO	YES
Can be used to remotely shut off your utility service	NO	YES
Can be used to charge Time-of-Use rating	NO	YES
Higher bills complaints	NO	YES
Appliance burnout complaints	NO	YES
Associated with numerous house fires	NO	YES
Interference with wireless devices	NO	YES
Safety complaints	NO	YES
Can contribute to grid failure	NO	YES
Meter has short life	NO   30 - 50 yrs	YES   12 - 15 yrs

---

It's a simple 3 minute process to opt out of the Smart Meter program. You can always change your mind later on at no cost to you, should you ever hear friends raving how glad they are to have a Smart Meter.

Cosmos girls blank Hartford

Springfield midfielder Megan Thomas had not scored a goal all season. But here she was standing over the ball getting ready to take a direct kick in the biggest game of her young life.

Bill and Lou still alive

Green Mountain College has postponed the slaughter which had been planned for Halloween.