Dumb mistake about smartphone parking
Reader John Paul of Prairie Archives points out that my account of smart phone parking apps in “Parking smartly” (Sept. 14, 2017) was misleading. Downtown street parking spaces are metered in the first place to encourage turnover that makes short-term parking available to shoppers and errand-runners. Feeding meters to stay beyond marked limits is illegal…
Well-Made Assassin Cut Above the Usual Action Fare
Timely and smart, Michael Cuesta’s American Assassin proves to be a worthy successor to the Jack Ryan films. Based on the novel by Vince Flynn, the author’s spy du jour, Mitch Rapp is the star of 16 different political thrillers, so there’s more than enough material to draw from and with Dylan O’Brien (Teen Wolf,…
Defendant flees Logan County courthouse
Logan County sheriff Steven Nichols says that his office will review security procedures after a convicted burglar fled the courthouse on Wednesday afternoon. Daron Mauney, who has a long criminal history, was facing revocation of probation on a burglary conviction when he ran. He remained at large on Thursday morning. “My guys chased him, but…
Parking smartly
Attorneys in their sunset years dream of the day when they no longer have to start a day knotting a necktie, governors of when they can complain about bills without people expecting them to know what’s in them. A certain Springfield columnist of that age dreams of never again having to write about parking downtown.…
The gaping hole in Trump’s border wall
How much of our money does Donald Trump want to pour into his xenophobic fantasy of erecting an impenetrable wall on our Mexican border? The big-businessman-turned-president insists that costs be damned – just build it! That seems to be a very un-businesslike approach – but then, it’s not his money, is it? For those of…
Despite the process, they passed a decent law
Lost in much of the hoopla over the process of passing school funding reform through the Illinois General Assembly is the fact that this is a pretty darned good and far-reaching bill. While this legislation is far from perfect and doesn’t provide an immediate fix, it finally puts the state on a path to equitable…
Letters to the Editor 9/14/17
CRITICAL OF COALReading the Sept. 7 “Guestwork” column by Rep. John Cabello (see “Coal critical to power future in Illinois” at illinoistimes.com, I wondered if Rep. Cabello was bought or simply hoodwinked. His arguments make little sense. The regulations he despises are there to prevent pollution, not just carbon dioxide. Coal is the dirtiest,…
Editor’s Note 9/14/17
Welcome back, Hillary. Some say she never left the public political scene, but the thoughtful talk Hillary Clinton has been giving to the media on her book promotion tour remind us how much a tough, wise, experienced and, yes, angry politician can contribute to the national dialogue as we all try to figure out, “What…
Hurricanes blow in hypocrisy
At hurricane force even this White House can see which way the wind blows. So of course Washington cobbled debt-ceiling relief with disaster relief. Every Democrat in Congress saw the needs and voted accordingly. On the majority Republican side, a mash-up of these two issues did free members loudly opposed to deficit spending to vote…
Art and music gone wild
On Friday, Sept. 15, join The Legacy Theatre and the Artrageous troupe for an interactive explosion of the visual and performing arts. Each Artrageous performance features a live band, captivating vocalists and talented visual artists paired with music, stunning choreography and life-sized puppetry in tribute to a variety of art forms, pop culture icons and…
Local podcast goes live
Join local comedians Jeremy Hughes and Larry Smith on Saturday, Sept. 16, at 8 p.m., for a live performance and recording session of their popular podcast, “Comedians with Day Jobs.” During their podcast, which is hosted by SoundCloud, the lively, relatable duo joke about the ins and outs of the lives of, in the words…
A contemporary take on classical ballet
Don’t miss the Springfield Ballet Company’s 24th annual contemporary approach to classical ballet. This year’s iteration is titled Rockballet: MIXTAPE, features live music by Down State and is a throwback to the nostalgia era of the 80s and 90s, when music was not available at the click of a button. According to the SBC’s artistic…
The gym reaper
This annoying guy at my gym keeps asking me out. I’m always polite, saying, “Would love to, but sorry, I’m really busy.” And then I move to another part of the gym. I’d go at a different time, but unfortunately, he’s always there in the hours I can work out. What should I say so…
Gardening with your senses
Gardeners may be familiar with the sense of calm and peace that can come from relaxing in a patch of fragrant and colorful flowers. It’s little wonder that the gardens have been harnessed for their therapeutic effects. “Horticultural therapy is about people, not the plants,” says University of Wisconsin Extension Master Gardener program director, Mike…
What to do with all the leaves
The fall foliage show of reds, yellows and golds will be beginning shortly in many parts of Illinois, and then will be finishing up before we know it. One good freeze up north will take care of any more fall color as the leaves come down, left in the landscape and on the lawn. If…
Nature journaling
Nature journaling enhances the outdoor or garden experience, while building a more positive and personal connection with nature. “I use nature journaling as a creative form of self-expression, but I find that it also promotes relaxation and calmness,” says Rhonda Ferree, horticulture educator with University of Illinois Extension. Many people journal. In its most basic…
Fall establishment of prairie habitat
Driving across Illinois in 2017, it can be difficult to imagine what the landscape looked like when Illinois was nicknamed the “Prairie State.” With the plight of pollinators in the public mind, many are looking for ways to reestablish prairies as a habitat for pollinators. The prairie is an ecosystem that can support a large…
Preparing your home for fall and winter weather
It’s been a great summer, but don’t let the pleasant weather catch you off guard. It’s time to prepare your home for the fall and winter weather to come. 1. Clean the exterior glass. As the weather cools it becomes more difficult to dry the windows because cold air cannot hold as much moisture as…
The fall colors we are already obsessed with
The changing of the leaves has us daydreaming over new home hues. From jewel tones to oversaturated oranges, autumnal tones bring a burst of drama and natural allure to any space. As interior revamps go, switching up paint colors via a bold accent wall or full-blown makeover is a cost-effective and wildly transformative design project.…
Try these fall outdoor redesign projects
Fall is a popular time to enjoy the outdoors, especially with the magic of the change of seasons. The summer is a time when many homeowners may wish to start thinking about fall improvements, especially while the weather is still warm. If you are looking for some ideas for ways to spruce up your home,…
Make a splash
Fountains have been around since Roman times. In the ancient world, they were purely functional, employing springs or aqueducts to provide water for drinking, bathing and cleaning to even the smallest villages. Modest, centrally located and fed by gravity, public fountains were the focus of a simple communal existence. Fountains went upscale when modern plumbing…
Pro-DACA rally recalls Springfield’s immigrant history
The Trump administration’s Sept. 5 announcement rescinding the U.S. government’s Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) policy, which provided protections for illegal immigrants who were brought to the U.S. as children, resulted in protests across the country last week, including one on the steps of the State Capitol on Sunday, Sept. 10. As several speakers…
Mixed bag on MacArthur
Six years ago, Springfield did what many cities do when faced with a deteriorating thoroughfare. Determined to turn around MacArthur Boulevard, the city commissioned a master plan, then appointed a committee to help make it happen. With trees and hidden parking and spacious sidewalks and stately brick buildings, the drawings were pretty. The dream was…
Downtown church renovation moves ahead
While one downtown redevelopment project appears to be going full speed ahead, another might be facing an existential moment as Springfield officials ponder how to distribute tax increment financing subsidies. Economic Growth Corporation, a company based in Rock Island that is renovating the former First United Methodist Church at the intersection of South Fifth Street…
FARMERS MARKET FREEDOM
Farmers markets throughout Illinois will be able to offer even greater variety beginning Jan. 1, 2018, thanks to a pair of local food bills that have now both been signed into law by Gov. Rauner. The Local Food Business Opportunities Act (House Bill 2820), sponsored by state Rep. Steven Andersson, R-Geneva, and state Sen. David…
ILLINOIS HISTORY
The 2017 Conference on Illinois History will take place Oct. 5-6 at the Abraham Lincoln Presidential Library and Museum. Featured speakers will be Stuart Layne, executive director of the Illinois Bicentennial Commission, and Louise Bernard, director of the Museum of the Obama Presidential Center. Topics will include the centennial of the 1917 East St. Louis…
Uneven It still effective, unnerving
Having gone through multiple directors and various screenwriters, Stephen King’s It has finally made it to the big screen, an event that’s been a long time coming for those disappointed with the lackluster 1990 mini-series that, inexplicably, has a cult following. As helmed by Andy Muschietti, whose only previous feature, Mama, was long on atmosphere…
September songs
First, let’s think some good thoughts for friends, family and everyone touched by Hurricane Irma. Fellow musicians Ken Carlyle, Joshua Reilly and Patrick Hagerman, all formerly from central Illinois, live in the central Florida region. Josh came up here to ride the storm out and played a gig at the Butternut Hut last night (Sept.…
The Blue G’s
Hey, these guys were good when they started and just keep getting better and better in live performance and on record. The celebration on Sunday presents both sides of the band with a live performance of the latest CD, Helpless, Hopeless, & Moving On, with Micah Walk opening the show. Bandmates Shane Bumgarner (banjo, vocals),…
Panic and interconnection
Two of Springfield’s most reliable venues for contemporary visual art presented openings of very different exhibitions this past Friday, Sept. 8. However, only one of the venues will still be standing next year at this time. DEMO Project – a small gallery space dedicated to contemporary art from across the country, located on the Springfield…
Getting back into the kitchen
Our society is experiencing an epidemic of obesity and diabetes with the root cause of insulin resistance. Insulin resistance develops when we bombard our body all day long with sugar-containing substances. It’s hard to find processed foods that don’t have sugar or high-fructose corn syrup in the ingredient list. If we wish to address the…
turtle township poem #13
as a kid I scarcely knew jean davisshe was one of the older kids inturtle her name was maxworthyI called her up many years agosaid I’ve been reading about youin the paper – WHAT!? – you werequeen I said in the 4-H pageant1937 in janesville your float ledthe parade you wore a peach gownshe started…
