After a year hiatus due to the pandemic, the Sangamon County Historical Society will once again host the Oak Ridge Cemetery Walk on Sunday, Oct. 3. Eight Springfield notables will be portrayed. Each of the actors will make a 5-7-minute presentation telling the story of one buried nearby. Here are a few highlights of each: […]
Cinda Ackerman Klickna
Cinda Klickna is a former teacher from Springfield and past president of the Illinois Education Association.
Posted inNews
Springfield’s independent films
A lone figure, head down, sits at a large dining room table. At the sound of the clapboard, the director announces, “Lights. Camera. Action.” Others slowly enter the room and take their seats at the table. There is chatter among the group, and then at one end of the table two discuss the time they […]
Posted inSpecial Issues
A mother’s memoir of heartbreak and healing
Through a 10-year ordeal with her son, Monique Davis of Rochester, a teacher in Springfield public schools, relied on her faith for strength and guidance. She has written about the journey in a memoir, Be Still and Know: A Mother’s Story of Faith, Heartbreak, and Miracles, published in 2021 through Amazon. Her son, Alex, had […]
Posted inNews
Historic Old Leland Farm House scheduled for demolition
As Illinois Times goes to press, demolition of the old rambling, brick mansion at Willemore and Wiggins, known as the Leland Farm house, appears to be imminent. The house was set to be demolished by its owner, Frank Vala, this week. Vala, a prominent Springfield businessman, is chair of the Springfield Airport Authority. Rumors had […]
Posted inNews
Springfield’s DAR chapter celebrates 126th anniversary
On Saturday, July 17, over 100 women attended an afternoon tea to celebrate an important milestone for the Springfield chapter of the Daughters of the American Revolution (DAR) – its 126th anniversary. COVID delayed the plans for the 125th anniversary. The Springfield chapter has 119 members, continues to grow and supports many worthy causes. It […]
Posted inArts & Culture
Tour Susan’s neighborhood on foot
Walk from the Dana-Thomas House at the corner of Fourth and Lawrence in Springfield, down to the Governor’s Mansion and around to Fifth Street. In just that short stretch, you can see four buildings listed on the National Register of Historic Places. The education committee of the Dana-Thomas House Foundation (DTHF) has published a free […]
Posted inArts & Culture
From Rochester to the world stage
When Ray Bruzan of Rochester researched a previous book, published in 2017, he discovered that an internationally known violinist had been born in Rochester in 1887. He had never before heard of Louis Persinger; to help others know of this amazing virtuoso, Bruzan wrote a children’s book, The Violinist of Rockychester. Now, Bruzan has published […]
Posted inArts & Culture
A day at Lake Springfield
Heading out to Lake Springfield with friends and family to enjoy an event at one of the many clubs or venturing out on your own just to explore can add to summer fun. The clubs are back with chicken fries, fish fries and parties. Lake Springfield Marina is open for rentals; there are picnic areas, […]
Posted inSpecial Issues
Memoir of an uncommon soldier, senator, mother
Tammy Duckworth, born to an American father and a Thai mother, lived in Bangkok, Phnom Penh, Singapore, Honolulu and Washington D.C., but when she drove through Illinois to study at Northern Illinois University, she said she felt she was “home.” Today, Illinois is still home, and she serves as the state’s U.S. senator, along with […]
Posted inSpecial Issues
A trip down Route 4 (Old Route 66)
Whether you want to learn some history or play golf, dig for treasures in an antique shop or bookstore, drive the old brick section of Route 66, walk across a covered bridge, see vintage cars or an old-fashioned drugstore, eat home-cooked meals or sample beers at a pub, you can get all your desires satisfied […]
Posted inSpecial Issues
Small Illinois towns with big names
People look forward to the time when travel will again be possible and dream of places to visit. Maybe to London, Liverpool or Windsor? How about Paris, Venice, Rome, Brussels or Vienna? Possibly to ancient cities of Sparta, Thebes or Troy? Or places in the south such as Bolivia, Cuba, Jamaica or Panama? Visiting faraway […]
Posted inOpinion
Phonics needs grammar on its team
Rachel Otwell’s “Rethinking reading” (IT Feb. 25) raises the need for phonics instruction, the process of learning letter sounds. I agree. Phonics hasn’t been stressed for many years. I encountered the lack of phonics instruction in 1970 as a student at the University of Illinois. One of my classes required tutoring a student in reading. […]
