Above: members of the Business ConXions committee and chamber of commerce board open the event
with a ribbon cutting ceremony.

More than 600 people turned out February 27 for the Holland-Springfield Chamber of Commerce’s
fourth annual business fair.
Sponsored by Yoder Machinery with additional support by AAA Northwest Ohio, the event was held at Springfield High School. More than 75 businesses, including area food vendors, were on hand to promote their enterprises, sell their products and offer complimentary samples of their goods and services.
The grand door prize at this year’s event was a trip to Cancun, which was won by Matt Baker. Additional door prizes were provided by participating businesses and drawings for the prizes were held throughout the four-hour fair.

Springfield School Board approves final calendar for 2010-11
By Jane Maiolo
On February 24, the Springfield Board of Education approved a final calendar for the 2010-11 school year. The calendar reflects a decision by the board to move from a semester to a trimester schedule for students in grades K through 12.
New teachers will be required to report for orientation on August 19 with all teachers reporting on August 20.
On Monday August 23, students in grades one through six, nine, and kindergarten students whose last names begin with letters A-L will report for their first day [see calendar inset].
On August 24, students in grades seven, eight and 10-12 will report as well as kindergarten students whose last names begin with the letters M-Z.
Thanksgiving recess will be held November 24-26, and the winter holiday break will begin on December 22. Students will return to the classroom on January 3.
Spring break is slated to begin April 2 with students returning on April 11. The last day of school will be on June 2. A graduation date for the class of 2011 has not been confirmed but is tentatively set for June 4.
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Council approves donation to local Historical Society
By Ryan McCarthy
Holland Village Council approved a donation to the Holland Springfield Spencer Historical Society and discussed ongoing plans for a village senior center at its March 2 meeting.
“We talked [at a previous meeting] about what a valuable asset we all seem to think that the Historical Society is to our community,” council president Lee Irons said.
The $1,000 donation– from the village’s $5,000 community donations fund– will support the society’s efforts to identify and promote historical sites in the area and provide educational programs to the community.
“I think it’s important to announce to everyone that none of this money we’re donating is going to salaries or anything except project work,” Mr. Irons said. “All of our officers and volunteers in our Historical Society serve without compensation, except thanks from our community.”
He encouraged council members to view the society’s displays at the Holland Community Building, 940 Clarion Avenue, where its meetings are held on the fourth Thursday of each month at 7 p.m. The meetings are free and open to the public.

Lady Devils end run at sectionals
Blue Devils defeated by solid Perrysburg Yellow Jacket squad
By Kevin Cummings
Perrysburg had a lot on the line in its recent game against Springfield. A victory would give the Yellow Jackets an undefeated season in the Northern Lakes League (NLL). Something not easily accomplished in an always tough basketball conference.
Playing at home, on Senior Night, Perrysburg completed its perfect puzzle, whipping a solid Blue Devil squad, 67-52.
Guard Matt Marquette (five rebounds, one 3-pointer) netted a game-high 21 points, while forward Charlie Hughes knocked down another 19 for the Yellow Jackets. The duo also combined for 14 rebounds as the hosts would put a stamp on a perfect (NLL) 14-0 season.
The loss drops Springfield to 14-5 overall and a 9-5 conference mark. Perrysburg is 19-1 on the season.
Hughes is just six points short of the school’s all-time scoring record. He has 1,120 points in has career compared to John Webster who finished with 1,125 in 1965. The 6’5” senior, who pulled downed nine boards in the win, will attend the University of Chicago on scholarship.
The Blue Devils were led by the NLL’s second and third leading scorers. Leroy Alexander (one 3-pointer) had 15 points in the setback, while Chester McFadden had 10.
Alexander averages 20.6 points per game, while McFadden checks in with 20.3 per outing. Contain the two and game in hand.
Perrysburg owned its home court in the first quarter, grabbing a convincing 17-7 lead. Good defense, poor shooting on the visitor’s behalf didn’t matter. The Devils were down by 10. The Royal Blue and White responded in the second, taking the period 15-13 to pull within eight at 30-22.

Twp. still seeking business donations to keep Freedom Celebration alive
By Beth Church
The Springfield Township Trustees are waiting another two weeks for donations before deciding if they must cancel this year’s Freedom Celebration.
Township Administrator Leslie Kohli told the trustees at their March 1 meeting that $5,000 has been raised.
“But last Friday, five or six people called to say, ‘let us see how much we can give,’” she explained.
She encouraged the trustees to give those business officials a little more time to gauge how much will be donated.
The Fourth of July celebration has been held for five years at Homecoming Park.
The nationally-known Christian rock band Sanctus Real played for two years, which attracted a much larger crowd, but also increased costs, Ms. Kohli noted.
Last year’s red, white and blue event was scaled back to limit expenses, but still featured a military band performance and chicken barbecue by the fire department.
The township paid $15,000 last year and secured about $20,000 in donations.
Cash donations over the years have averaged between $14,000 and $20,000, she said.
One option would be to limit the event to just a fireworks display, car show and children’s games, she said.
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SHS to present ‘Into the Woods’
The Springfield High School production of “Into the Woods” will take place on March 12 and 13, at 8 p.m., and on March 14, at 2:30 p.m., in the Springfield High School Tombaugh Auditorium.
The play is a fractured fairy tale by James Lapine with music and lyrics by Stephen Sondheim.
Tickets cost $10, adults; $8, students and seniors. Presale tickets will be available at the SHS box office Monday through Thursday, from 7 to 8 p.m., during the week of the show. Presale ticket order forms are available at the Web site at www.springfieldlocal schools.net. Tickets also will be available at the door.