Good morning, Springfield.

Family and Youth Initiatives will host its seventh annual Harvesting Hope event on Thursday, Sept.

17 at Grace Evangelical Church, with appetizers at 5:30 p.m. and interactive workshops at 6:30 p.m. The free event requires registration and donations like baby wipes + packaged snacks to earn raffle tickets.

Food lovers will enjoy the 12th Springfield Rotary Gourmet Food Truck Competition at Veterans Park from 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. Saturday, Sept.

12 as up to 30 food trucks, a car show, a beer garden plus local wineries and activities offer options for a lively day supporting community projects.

7 Brew Coffee will open a new drive-thru location at the 4200 block of Liden Avenue in Riverside this fall—creating 75 new jobs and expanding its presence in Montgomery County.

The Best of Springfield 2026 competition has closed and winners and finalists will be announced at a Greater Springfield Partnership event (5:30 p.m. Oct.

15 at Hollenbeck Bayley Center, 275 S. Limestone) featuring awards, an outdoor beer garden, music and a photo booth. No more nominations or votes can be made.

The Ohio Department of Education has set a new rule so students missing over 10% of instructional hours are labeled chronically absent, and families will be notified once a 5% absence threshold is reached.

School officials say the policy aims to find support for attendance issues (not to impose legal penalties).

A groundbreaking ceremony on Wednesday, Aug.

26 celebrated the planned construction of five new homes on Euclid Avenue in Springfield — the homes will be finished in November and feature an open house in early December.

The Tippecanoe volleyball team honored former assistant coach Ashley Flynn before its season-opening game on Tuesday, Aug.

25 at Tippecanoe High School.