🌱 Patch AM: How a massive tree tore through a Springfield home overnight

Hey hey Springfield! Your one-stop source for local news is here. Continue reading for all the updates. ☕️️

In today's newsletter:

• How a massive tree tore through a Springfield home overnight
• How did Jonathan Dayton turn a 30-point loss into a 35-point win?
• Who’s getting sworn in at Springfield’s 2026 reorganization meeting?

Also on today's calendar: Five Things You Must Know About Estate Planning After 65 (Online) and 2 more events.

Today's riddle: Playing golf is bad for your brain. 🤔 (Answer below!)

Weather forecast:

• Thursday: Breezy; morning flurries, with a high of 31 and low of 19 degrees. ⛄️ Brr!
• Friday: Cold with clouds and sun, temps: high: 30, low: 22.
• Saturday: Partly sunny, with a high of 34 and low of 22 degrees.

📰 News we're reading

• Tree Crashes Through Home In Union County: See Inside (patch.com) — A powerful windstorm sent a tree crashing through a home on Woodcrest Circle in Springfield Monday night, knocking out power for several hours but miraculously leaving the family and their pets uninjured. Gusts hit around 50 mph locally and up to 60 mph elsewhere in New Jersey as thousands lost electricity under a statewide Wind Advisory.
   

• Jonathan Dayton boys basketball tops undefeated David Brearley (unionnewsdaily.com) — Jonathan Dayton High School’s boys basketball team thrilled the Springfield home crowd with a dominant 67–32 win over previously undefeated rival David Brearley, bouncing back from a tough season opener. Led by Adrian Bernknopf’s 18 points and a swarming defense, the Bulldogs controlled every quarter and now look ahead to more home action, including a January matchup with Governor Livingston.
   

• TOWNSHIP OF SPRINGFIELD AGENDA Organization Meeting January 1, 2026 1 p.m. (springfieldpatriot.com) — Springfield’s Township Committee will hold its annual reorganization meeting on January 1 at 1 p.m., swearing in Mayor Harris Laufer, other officials, and dozens of board and commission members. The agenda also covers key professional appointments, emergency management roles, and 2026 financial and tax-related resolutions that shape how township services run this year.
   

📸 Around Springfield

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🗓 Upcoming Events in Springfield

Add your event to our calendar and newsletter!

★ Featured events ★

Friday January 2

• Five Things You Must Know About Estate Planning After 65 (Online)
  Online,
  2:30 pm

Saturday January 24

• Millburn-Short Hills Camp Fair
  Millburn High School, 462 Millburn Ave, Millburn
  12:00 pm

Want to see your event featured? Click here!

Other local events

Saturday January 10

• Concord Singers Winter Concert: I Rise
  Calvary Episcopal Church , 31 Woodland Ave , Summit
  4:00 pm

Sunday January 11

• Meadowbrook Day Camp to Host Open House on January 11, 2026
  Meadowbrook Country Day Camp , 73 E Valley Brook Rd , Washington Township
  11:00 am
• Forever Judy and the Wizard of Oz
  Springfield Public Library Springfield, NJ 07081
  2:00 pm

📣 Springfield Shout Outs!

Want to say something great about someone in town? Click here to submit your Shout Out to Patch AM! It's free!

🗓 Events Nearby

Thursday January 1

• New Year's Day - Municipal Building Closed
  Union Township, NJ Calendar Union, NJ 07083
  8:30 am

Friday January 2

• City Offices Closed
  Summit, NJ Calendar Summit, NJ 07901
• Day After New Year's- Town Hall Closed
  Millburn Township, NJ Calendar Millburn, NJ 07041
• Ice Hockey: Boys Developmental vs. Montclair (Home)
  Westfield High School , 550 Dorian Road , Westfield
  4:40 pm
• Chat with the Mayor
  New Providence, NJ Calendar , 360 Elkwood Ave. , New Providence
  6:30 pm

Saturday January 3

• HOLD Asbury: Play and Say
  Chatham United Methodist Church , 460 Main Street , Chatham
  12:30 pm
• Basketball: Boys Varsity vs. Ramapo (Home)
  Manasquan High School
  5:00 pm

Sunday January 4

• SHOULDA 12:00-6:00
  Cranford Dramatic Club Theatre , 78 Winans Ave , Cranford
• Ice Hockey: Girls Varsity vs. Madison (Away)
  Westfield High School , 550 Dorian Road , Westfield
  8:00 pm

Have we missed something on our calendar? Add an event yourself! As always, before attending confirm event details to ensure accuracy.

Thank you 👏👏👏 to the local businesses for making Springfield PatchAM possible:

• Mindsee.it — (646) 663-8317
  Teach your kids they can achieve the impossible!
• Dogtopia of Union — (475) 338-3501
  Dogtopia – Dog Daycare, Boarding, Spa & Wellness

Click here to show your appreciation! 💚

Want to see your business here? Click here to connect with local customers.

💬 Chatter

What your neighbors are talking about on social media

• Springfield Public Schools posted a job opening for Assistant Boys Lacrosse Coach in Springfield. Apply here.
• Floor & Decor Holdings, Inc. posted a job opening for Cashier in Springfield. Apply here. You can search for other jobs near Springfield here.

🗞 Nearby News

Summit

• $200K In Grants Awarded To Historic Summit Attraction (patch.com)
• Johnson Girls Win Pete Tierney Holiday Tournament in Summit! (tapinto.net)
• Summit Author Greg Licciardi Releases New Book, The Holy Grail of Marketing (tapinto.net)

Union

• Tony Award nominee will close Kean Stage's 2025-2026 season (unionnewsdaily.com)

Cranford

Ok Springfield! So now you're in the loop about what's happening today. Thanks for reading, and see you in your inbox next time! Oh -- and if you like what you're reading, invite a friend to Patch AM!

-- The Patch AM Team

P.S. The answer to today's riddle: I just heard a golfer say he had four strokes on the first hole!
Got a good riddle for PatchAM? Send it to us!

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