Seven members of the Springfield City Council proposed a handful of budget cuts today, hoping to reduce Mayor Jim Langfelder’s proposed tax increase. The combined cuts would save more than $3.8 million in the current fiscal year, according to the aldermen. However, a spokeswoman for the mayor says the budget deficit can’t be filled with […]
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Having a tiff about TIF
By Thomas C. Pavlik Freelance Contributor Between the surveyor’s museum, the former Methodist church downtown, the YWCA, and Enos Park, everyone seems to be in a tiff about TIF. There have been many discussions lately among the aldermen and the general public about the most appropriate use of these funds. First, a bit of history […]
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Illinois could see boost from Cuba trade
By Monica Stabile The Illinois agriculture industry is crossing its fingers that Congress will expand U.S. trade with Cuba. A bill to do just that is pending in the legislature, and Illinois could receive a huge boost in business opportunities if the bill becomes law. Nestor Gutierrez, a Cuban immigrant and owner of Buena Vista […]
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Fairhills Shopping Center sold to new owner
Fairhills Shopping Center has a new owner and a new vision following a sale this month. Changes at Fairhills could include new national retailers and a reconfiguration of some retail space. Fairhills is on Springfield’s northeast side, bounded by Washington Street, Chatham Road and Monroe Avenue. It hosts a handful of restaurants, a County Market […]
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Gone for Good
Business employs adults with disabilities By Teresa Paul Gone for Good Secure Document Destruction, located at 1411 East Jefferson St., supports the community both through recycling and by employing people with disabilities. “Gone for Good provides NAID (National Association for Information Destruction) AAA-certified security, the highest certification available for secure document destruction businesses,” said Jenny […]
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A neighborhood organization with a vision
By Teresa Paul Springfield ICON (Inner City Older Neighborhoods) held its first fundraiser and second annual Good Neighbor awards on Dec. 7. “The organization began in 2009 and was an outgrowth, in part, of the protest over the increased railroad traffic on Third St.,” said Carol Kneedler, chair of Springfield ICON. The protest caused a […]
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Little log home builders on the prairie
By Roberta Codemo James Mlinar first fell in love with log cabins when he was a kid after he and his family stayed in one while vacationing in Estes Park, Colorado. “They’re part of our history,” he said. Having always enjoyed building things, he jumped at the opportunity to help his brother build his log […]
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Local school districts in transition
Low-income students increase in outlying areas, hold steady in District 186 By Catherine O’Connor In this first installment of a two-part project, SBJ examines the results of a study of public perceptions of Springfield’s Public School District 186 in contrast to real statistics on the number of low-income students throughout Sangamon County. Next month, part […]