Next month I will be marking my 83rd birthday and the 70th anniversary of my bar mitzvah, the ceremony in Judaism marking a young person’s passage to adulthood. In recent times, some Jewish men of my generation, on reaching the age of 83, have been celebrating a second bar mitzvah. Psalm 90 notes that “the […]
Arts & Culture
Posted inArts & Culture
The face of downtown
A man who holds a Springfield bowling record is on track for a milestone in his professional career. O.J. Crowder set a city high-series bowling record with an 886 in November 2008. Today, Crowder has served downtown Springfield as a letter carrier for the U.S. Postal Service for more than 30 years. Crowder’s 2008 bowling […]
Posted inThe Mosaic Project
OJ Crowder interview
For three decades, OJ Crowder has been a familiar and friendly face in downtown Springfield. As a dedicated letter carrier for the U.S. Postal Service, he’s spent the last 30 years getting to know our city and its people. Now, his story is being shared in a new podcast episode that highlights his experiences, the […]
Posted inNews
Sangamon Auditorium to reopen in October with major upgrades
After more than a year without performances, there’s finally a date to circle on the calendar: Sangamon Auditorium is set to reopen this October. The UIS Performing Arts Center has been closed since June 2025 to make way for a major plumbing replacement throughout the building. It’s not the most glamorous upgrade, but it was […]
Posted inArts & Culture
Nerds’ night out
The 25thAnnual Putnam County Spelling Bee or Putnam, as it’s lovingly referred to by theater connoisseurs on a time crunch, is a sweetly funny but sincere musical about a small-town spelling bee and the cast of fiercely competitive children (all played by adults) who are vying for first place. It is essentially a comedic A […]
Posted inArts & Culture
A place to stay awhile, a space to belong: Inside Vondra Social House
There’s an art to creating a space people don’t just pass through. Creating a space that people choose to settle into requires an invitation to a space filled with more than the hum of smooth music and conversation. At Vondra Social House, that invitation is clear. Owners Eric and Sierra Ferrell have created a place […]
Posted inFilm
Normal masters bloody humor, Balls is crudely funny
Bloody humor a winner in Normal I wouldn’t have expected Bob Odenkirk to take the Liam Neeson route to map out the final act of his eclectic career. Having cut his comedic teeth as a writer at “Saturday Night Live” and co-creator of the groundbreaking sketch comedy series “Mr. Show,” he proved he had dramatic […]
Posted inIT Picks
Springfield Comic-Con returns
Comic-Con is back and this year’s event features Joey Fatone from NSync, Tara Reid from the American Pie trilogy and other films, Austin St. John from Power Rangers, Amanda Bearse from Married With Children and many other celebrities. See the Facebook page for the complete list of celebrities who will be on hand. Event includes […]
Posted inPoetry
Treacle Well
I lived near Oxford for a yearAnd once bicycled the nearbycountryside with a neighbor. We cycled past a country churchyard and Maggie said, “The TreacleWell is in there” so we parkedour bikes and went through thelychgate to find it. The wellwas unobtrusive. Maggie stoodby the rim and I took her picture. You can’t very wellphotograph a well. […]
Posted inBooks
Lincoln as historian? A different perspective.
Central Illinois is Abraham Lincoln country. Springfield has his law office, the home he owned as an adult, his tomb and the Old State Capitol, where he legislated and spoke. Surrounding regions focus on courthouses where Lincoln prosecuted or defended numerous cases, as well as the reconstructed village of New Salem, where Lincoln lived as […]
Posted inCommunity & Lifestyle
High School Healthcare Bootcamps
High school students interested in a career in health care are invited to apply for the Summer 2026 High School Healthcare Bootcamps at HSHS St. John’s Hospital in Springfield, HSHS St. Mary’s Hospital in Decatur and HSHS St. Anthony’s Memorial Hospital in Effingham. The bootcamps are designed for high school juniors and seniors interested in […]
Posted inCommunity & Lifestyle
Springing into science
When people understand science, the whole community benefits. A scientifically literate community is a stronger community – one where people can navigate new technologies, evaluate information and participate in conversations that shape our future. Scientific literacy isn’t about memorizing facts. It’s about understanding how the world works well enough to make thoughtful choices within it. […]
