The Hub Springfield

07/18/2025

Whether it's organizing a trip to FFA Camp, attending professional development trainings, completing paperwork, supervising student projects, or helping manage the Clark County Fair, it’s all part of a week’s work for agriculture educators across Ohio, like Ellyse Simpson.

This year’s Clark County Fair, held July 18-25, is a major milestone for FFA students and an opportunity to showcase their work and ag education. Despite the ongoing summer break, you'll also find educators there supporting that work.

“At the fair, you can find ag teachers everywhere,” Simpson says. “We’re supporting members during weigh-ins, helping with any animal issues or illnesses, and acting as a liaison between FFA programs and fair organizers. We keep everyone in the loop on rule changes and help make things run smoothly.”

Learn more about how the Fifth Quarter Grant from the state makes it possible for teachers to continue supporting agricultural educational opportunities throughout the summer here: https://www.hubspringfield.com/features/summer-doesnt-slow-down-for-agriculture-educators.aspx

Photos and story by Jacob Zajkowski

07/07/2025

Did you know a nationally recognized communications agency is located in Springfield?

Inside Co-Hatch, Shift-ology is working to help companies in agriculture and health expand their outreach and create a positive impact.

“We focus on the grand challenges for the industries that we serve,” explains Founder Melanie Wilt. “We are really focused around driving innovation and invention around science communication.”

Envisioning a company that could bridge gaps between industries and their audiences, Wilt started the company in 2008, and as a self-described visionary, she’s quick to point to the growth that Shift-ology has exhibited over the years.

“I've seen it grow from a small, in-home business to a thriving company that serves partners all over the country,” Wilt says. “It's incredible.”

Learn more about this local company making big business moves:

"At Shift-ology, we believe we win when our clients win, and that’s exactly what these awards represent. Whether it was helping a school reach new students, telling a sustainability story for an agricultural client or elevating an important community

07/05/2025

How do you measure the success of a school year?

Students from the Springfield City School District have been out of school for a few weeks, and in that time, district staff have been asking themselves that very question.

“There are so many different opinions about what that is,” explains Jenna Leinasars, communications specialist for the district. “Do you look at test scores? Do you look at improvement metrics? But there are so many other things, especially to me, that define that.”

Learn more about how Springfield City School District is creating its own definition of success: https://www.hubspringfield.com/features/springfield-city-school-district-shares-100-successes-from-the-2024-2025-school-year.aspx

07/03/2025

Have you checked out the Springfield Farmers Market yet this season?

Held from 9:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. Saturdays from June through September, downtown at 117 S. Fountain Ave, the growing market offers locally grown and locally made products.

“We have incredible folks that truly believe in the products they sell at our market. It’s really a social event for our community.”

05/30/2025

Matt Luther, owner of The Peanut Shoppe, remembers as a child tagging along with parents or grandparents to the downtown Springfield staple.

Freshly roasted nuts? Chocolates and other candies? A kid doesn’t exactly need to be dragged there.

“Then I kind of lost contact with it as I went through high school and college,” Luther says during a recent phone interview. “But when I was back to living day-to-day in Springfield, I reconnected with it and always had a soft spot for the store because I just thought it was the coolest store in town.”

Opened in 1937 by Planters as a National Peanut Corporation store, according to The Peanut Shoppe’s website, the business has been owned by several families since the 1960s.

In 2018, following nearly a decade and a half in the insurance business and looking to do something new after raising three children with his wife, Amy, Luther read in a newspaper article that its then-owners, Tim and Laurel Shouvlin, were interested in selling it to someone who would keep it going. It was an opportunity worth exploring, he decided.

With Amy, who has experience owning small businesses, as a co-owner, Luther took over the business seven years ago, seeking to improve upon a winning formula.

We explore how Luther is maintaining the shop Springfield residents know and love, while testing out some new ideas here: https://www.hubspringfield.com/features/peanuts-and-possibilities-how-matt-luther-is-working-to-continue-the-legacy-of-the-peanut-shopp.aspx

Photos by Andy Grimm

05/29/2025

The Gammon House has been organizing Juneteenth events long before it became a federal holiday in 2021. It’s regarded as one of, if not the longest-running, Juneteenth events in the Midwest. It’s an event so ingrained into the locale that when the organizers started preparing, it didn’t immediately sink in that 2025 was a milestone year.

“I think each year, we get so wrapped up in the planning of this event, it was kind of just happenstance of going over previous years’ materials that we were like, ‘Okay, that year was 18, and that would make last year 19,’ ” says Gammon House Board Member Camille Buford, “and we kind of just stumbled upon, ‘Oh, my goodness, this is 20 years.’”

“I would by no means call us experts, but the amount of time and history that we have planning this event, putting on this event, really truly benefits us in holding this every year.”

05/23/2025

Today, Global Impact STEM Academy celebrated the completion of its new $16.945 million expansion project. Located on Clark State College's Leffel Lane campus, the Upper Academy facility will welcome 10th- and 12th-grade students in August of 2025.

Hub Photographer Andy Grimm takes us inside the new facility here:

"Now that Phase I of the expansion project is complete, we’re excited to welcome more students into a learning environment that’s immersive, hands-on and focused on preparing them for real-world success – whether that’s in the workforce or in higher

05/07/2025

On Saturday, the National Association of Letter Carriers will host its annual Stomp Out Hunger Food Drive. Here in Springfield, donations benefit the Second Harvest Food Bank and its partnering agencies in Clark, Champaign, and Logan counties.

As letter carriers deliver mail on May 10, they’ll collect food donations from residents along their routes.

Learn how to participate here:
https://www.hubspringfield.com/devnews/letter-carriers-to-host-annual-food-drive-on-saturday.aspx

04/24/2025

On April 26, Springfield-Clark Career Technology Center (CTC) will host its sixth Dick Ater Memorial Jaguar Jubilee Car Show, drawing car enthuaists all of ages and intersts.

Claire Spangler, CTC school counselor and event coordinator, says the car show draws in a wide variety of all makes, models, and years.

The event is named after Dick Ater, who was the auto body and collision repair instructor for CTC for over 20 years, and helps raise funds for Ater's Drug Free Clubs of America. The club, brought to CTC by Ater, encourages students to be drug-free and rewards them for rewards for maintaining a healthy, drug-free lifestyle.

“Every person who shows up plays a part in supporting our students’ futures, whether it’s through encouragement, donations, or simply showing appreciation for their work,” says Spangler. “It’s one of those feel-good, community-driven events that remind you how strong and connected we are here in Clark County.”

Read more about the history of the Dick Ater Memorial Jaguar Jubilee Car Show, how it supports students, and what visitors can excpect to see here: https://www.hubspringfield.com/features/springfield-clark-career-technology-center-prepares-to-host-jaguar-jubilee-car-show.aspx

04/05/2025

The Hub has a new editor! Brittany Lantz will bring her editorial expertise to The Hub, focusing on strengthening our local journalism in Springfield. Her commitment to community-centered reporting will ensure that Springfield's stories, people, and priorities remain at the heart of our publication.

Brittany Lantz will bring her editorial expertise to The Hub, focusing on strengthening our local journalism in Springfield. Her commitment to community-centered reporting will ensure that Springfield's stories, people, and priorities remain at the h

02/28/2025

Hi Hat Social will have its official grand opening next week! Read the story linked below.

02/05/2025