SPRINGFIELD NEWSLETTER

What’s New in Springfield, NE

April 30, 2008

Spring, o’ spring, where is spring? That seems to be the topic of conversation these days. Warm and sunny days tempt us into thinking,”Yahoo, its here”. Then, sadly, the weather reverts to cloudy, cold, wet, and windy. Perhaps by the Fourth of July we’ll be able to store away those winter clothes!

Did you notice that glaring glitch in last week’s article about the Mother/Daughter Banquet? Unfortunately, the 1958 Springfield Monitor news article didn’t appear in the newsletter due to technical difficulties. Actually, I was experiencing technical difficulties trying to convert that document… so we’ll try this again! I’m crossing my fingers hoping this works!!!

Springfield Days 2008 is happening June 6 & 7. Mark your calendars for a fun in the sun good time! We’ll be “Surfing Into Springfield”. Get your beach wear ready! Check out the official announcement on the www.springfieldnebraska.com webpage under “What’s New”, and then click on “Events”.

Toilet paper: an important necessity of everyday life. If it weren't for the founding fathers of Quilted Northern, Charmin or Angel Soft, who knows what we would be using? Therefore, the Methodist Youth Group has taken initiative to help others who can't help themselves to a decent roll.

We are hosting a toilet paper drive, "Wiping out Poverty One sheet at a time" for the month of May. A table will be set up in the narthex to promote the drive and the kids will do a house to house drive through Springfield May 4th from 4-6. All the toilet paper will be donated to Together Inc and the Pearl Pantry, both charitable corporations. The UMC district office is "behind" us 100%.

The kids and I thought a toilet paper drive was something out of the ordinary and a fun way to get involved in missions. We hope to collect 1,000 rolls of tissue which will stock the organizations for months with toilet paper. We also hope to alleviate some of their costs. If everyone takes a "swipe" at it, it will help out the overall cause.

Please bring in a package or bale each week to help us out. :-)
Submitted by Ron Smith, United Methodist Youth Group Leader

The Sarpy/Cass Health Department sponsored a plastic bag collection drive in recognition of Nebraska Public Health Month (topic: “Climate Change: Our Health in the Balance”) and Earth Day.
Elementary students from South Sarpy District 46 brought plastic bags into their classroom for eight days in the beginning of April. Plastic bags accepted included grocery bags, retail bags, bread sacks, newspaper sleeves, and dry cleaning bags. The plastic bags were collected and hand-counted by Health Department staff and placed into 150 gallon plastic bags. The plastic bags will be recycled by the Hy-Vee Store located at Shadow Lake Towne Center during the week of April 21.The classroom in each school that collected the most number of bags per student won a special party on Earth Day, April 22. The Health Department also gave each student in both schools a reusable shopping bag.
Westmont Elementary, with 252 students, collected a total of 24,101 bags. Springfield Elementary, with 281 students, collected a total of 17,245 bags. Combined, South Sarpy District 46 elementary school students collected 41,346 bags.
The EPA estimates that 380 million plastic bags are used annually in the United States, and an estimated 1% of all plastic bags get turned in for recycling.
Submitted by Erin Ponec, Sarpy/Cass Department of Health

Springfield Memorial Library held Earth Day “Recycle it” craft day on April 24th. What can you do with recyclables? Create something! Check out these earth friendly designs:

WHAT’S HAPPENING IN SPRINGFIELD

May 1- 7pm Honor Choir & 6th grade Band Concert at Platteview High Auditorium
May 4 – 1 pm Acoustic Sunday at Soaring Wings Vineyard. Chris Saub is playing. Free Admission!
May 5 – 7pm PHS Vocal/Instrumental Concert
May 6- 7pm Platteview High Honors Night
May 7- 6:30pm Mother/Daughter Banquet at United Methodist Church. “Remember the 1950’s” For reservations and to sign up to sing Karaoke, call the church office at 253-2270 or Joanne Latham at 253-2708. Adults $6.00, children 3-10 yrs $3.00, under 3, free.
May 8 – 7pm Springfield Days meeting at Springfield Memorial Library
May 10 – Noon – 10pm –Fourth Annual Spring Wine and Blues Festival at Soaring Wings Vineyard. $30 per person. For more info about this event, log on: www.soaringwingswine.com/eventsandfestivals.html
May 11- Platteview High Senior Graduation- Best wishes to the 2008 graduates!
May 11- Happy Mother’s Day!

SPRINGFIELD HISTORICAL TIDBIT:
The original Hippie of Springfield (was) known to all as “Old Henry”. His name was Henry F. Morris and he lived in a cave southwest of town. He had become disillusioned with life in general and was sure that civilization was doomed.

~The universe is a big place, perhaps the biggest.
--Kilgore Trout

Connie Manzer

News to the Editor: Please send in all your Springfield area news. Pictures, announcements, and events will be added to the upcoming newsletter. Thanks in advance for all your help. Send to Editor@springfieldnebraska.com.