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Old Hill Neighborhood hosts info. fair

Linda Franklin, left, from Senator Stephen Buoniconti's office and Besty Goodrich, from Springfield Walks, provide information for attendees. Reminder Publications photo by Sarah M. Corigliano
By Sarah M. Corigliano

Assistant Managing Editor



SPRINGFIELD Last Tuesday, members of the Old Hill Neighborhood Council, Springfield College and several Springfield-based agencies hosted the second annual Old Hill informational fair on the grounds of Springfield College.

Old Hill Neighborhood Council President Omega Johnson said to expect the fair next year at the same time.

"All this takes place because of Springfield College," Johnson explained. She said they allow the use of the field at Eastern Avenue and Alden Street, and provide the catering for the event.

Vendors also support the fair by paying to host an informational table there.

Participants brought information about everything from services available to families in need, to how to utilize the city's rail trails and information for first-time home buyers.

Vendors included HAP, the Pioneer Valley Project, Springfield Walks, Weed and Seed Community Coalition and Springfield Partners for Community Action.

The Mason Square Weed and Seed Community Coalition handed out information about upcoming events: Sept. 29 "Mason Square Community Celebrates: Taking it to another level," will tell residents what the Coalition has accomplished in terms of neighborhood restoration, drug prevention and intervention, community policing and law enforcement. There will also be an opportunity to give ideas for future goals.

Oct. 15 "Mason Square Community Summit: A Community Planning Retreat," will be an opportunity to use the feedback from the Sept. 29 meeting and modify the group's 2003 strategic plan.

Nov. 17 "Making it Happen," the plan will be presented to the community.

All locations for the Weed and Seed events are to be announced. For more information about the program and the events above, call 733-2149, ext. 106.

The Weed and Seed program is made up of four community councils: Bay Area, Old Hill, Upper Hill and McKnight; and includes the Mason Square Drug Free Task Force.

The Mason Square Weed and Seed Community Coalition meets the second Monday of each month.

Springfield Walks is a collaborative partnership which seeks to "make it easier, safer and more enjoyable for people in the Springfield area to walk and ride bicycles," according to the informational flyer they distributed last week.

The group is focusing on the Mason Square area first, and hoping to work throughout the city thereafter. Work in Mason Square will include the Mason Square Interpretive Walking Trail and the Mason Square Linear Park (rail trail). Anyone interested in participating in Springfield Walks may contact Betsy Goodrich at the Rails- to- Trails Conservancy at 978-275-9777 or betsy@railtrails.org.

The Pioneer Valley Project is sponsored by the Hampden County Episcopal Deanery, the Springfield Catholic Diocese, the Pioneer Valley Central Labor Council and the Western Area United Church of Christ.

It is an interdenominational group represented by many churches, temples and synagogues in Springfield, as well as other organizations seeking to relieve poverty, racism, discrimination, dependency, unemployment and prevent deterioration of communities in the lower Pioneer Valley.

At the fair they provided a booklet with their goals and accomplishments and information about the organization.

HAP handed out information about financial fitness classes and homebuyer education classes planned for Springfield.

On Sept. 29, there will be a reception for interested parties at Holy Family Church, 235 Eastern Ave., at 6 p.m. For more information call the Pioneer Valley Project (PVP) at 827-0781. This program is a collaboration of HAP, PVP and Springfield Neighborhood Housing Services.

Sarah Page of HAP said these groups are building and renovating about 10 homes in the Old Hill neighborhood, with construction beginning next spring.