Tuesday, December 11, 2012
Patch reader proposed alternate Hanukkah symbol for town hall.
- GOVERNMENT
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Tuesday, December 11, 2012
Why are some Springfield residents afraid of lighting and displaying eight lights of the Menorah during the Holiday celebration of Town Hall? Where is the good will toward men? Why can't our Jewish children look toward town hall and feel they are part of our holiday festivities and lights? Springfield is scared to display the eight lights of the Menorah on its town hall grounds. In a township with a significant Jewish population, this slight is inexcusable and unbelievable in 2012. Mayor Shehady and his committee are making poor excuses to stifle a display of eight lights where over four hundred holiday lights are lit on the premises of town hall lawn. The Menorah is a symbol to Hanukkah just as the Christmas tree is to Christmas. The …
Thursday, December 6, 2012
Poll shows support for a Menorah outside of Town Hall, but comments show concerns.
While a majority of Springfield residents in Springfield Patch's informal poll said they favored having a Menorah outside of the municipal building as part of the the township's holiday celebration, a significant minority oppose the measure and several commenters voiced reservations about adding an overt religious symbol to the Springfield holiday display. Of the 87 votes in the poll, 63 respondents favored having a Menorah dispay and 24 opposed. In addition to voting in the poll, several readers took to the comments to debate the Menorah. While the Menorah would be fitting of the town in light of its considerable Jewish population, readers worry that the Menorah would be too overt of a religious symbol. Several readers drew a …
Sunday, December 2, 2012
Mark the holidays with your neighbors.
Santa is coming to town today. The annual municipal tree lighting ceremony is tonight. The tree lighting will again be held outside town hall at Town Hall Lawn and North Trivett Avenue. Santa Claus will again come to town to make himself available to children following a daredevil descent from the municipal building’s roof via a fire engine ladder. In addition, the afternoon will have hayrides, a petting zoo and an edible craft tables for children. And for those looking to give, local charity Springfield H.O.P.E will be collecting new unwrapped toys and Barnes and Noble gift cards. Are you going? Add photos of your family and friends to this article or email them to adamb@patch.com.
Thursday, November 29, 2012
Earlier start time and additional attractions for this year’s holiday ceremony.
Santa is again coming to Springfield. And this year, he’s bringing a bag stuffed with new attractions. The annual municipal tree lighting ceremony, set for Sunday, Dec. 2, will feature its traditional mainstays of lighting the tree, a dramatic Santa appearance and children singing holiday songs. But this year, the event has been supersized with new features, including a petting zoo, hayrides and more. “After last year, the office staff and I discussed all year about expanding the event a bit,” Springfield recreation director Mike Tennaro said in an email, adding that they were looking “to create a better community event for all to enjoy." The tree lighting will again be held outside town hall at Town Hall Lawn and North Trivett Avenue. In…
Sunday, December 25, 2011
A look back at the photos that shaped our winter.
Here are our photos of the season. Add yours!
Sharon Davis Katz
10:40 pm on Tuesday, December 11, 2012
Bravo , Gale! We had a Menorah on the front lawn for several years. Sadly, it was vandalized, but kept up. The Menorah was not paid for with resident tax dollars, as are the current decorations; the Chabad presented the Menorah to the town and another resident donated the security camera. A township Committe discussion over state vs religion took the 'religious' symbol away from the public land. … more ›