SPRINGFIELD, Mass. (WWLP) - Springfield leaders celebrated a significant milestone within the city's tree maintenance operations. Mayor Domenic Sarno was joined by City Forester Alex Sherman and the Hampden County Sheriff's Department to highlight their partnership in the stump grinding program. Stranded puppy rescued from Connecticut River bridge in Holyoke Personnel from the Sheriff's Department operate city equipment to grind stumps around Springfield. Together, they've cleared 2,000 stumps since the inception of the program. "That is not only a quality issue for folks who have these stumps in front of these homes, but it also occupies a potential planning place for us," Sherman said. "So this program we're able to grind those stumps, remove the nuisances, and open up the new planting location so we can put a tree in." Sherman said if you have a stump on your tree-belt, you can call 311 and put in a request to have it ground. The work is free of charge. Local News Headlines Southwick police searching for vehicle connected to shoplifting Massachusetts Caucus of Women Legislators turns 50 What to look out for during termite season Tree pollen arriving as temperatures get warmer WWLP-22News, an NBC affiliate, began broadcasting in March 1953 to provide local news, network, syndicated, and local programming to western Massachusetts. Watch the 22News Digital Edition weekdays at 4 p.m. on WWLP.com. ...read more read less