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 […]
Cinda Ackerman Klickna
Cinda Klickna is a former teacher from Springfield and past president of the Illinois Education Association.
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. […]
Posted inArts & Culture
Compass Zooming Book Club
Every Thursday night around 93 children sign onto one of three Zooms happening simultaneously to participate in a book club. This is a new addition to Club Compass, one of the programs under the umbrella of Compass for Kids. In any other year, students in first through fifth grades would be meeting in person at […]
Posted inArts & Culture
The library that Dolly built
For several years there has been a waiting list in Sangamon County for children to receive free books through Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library (DPIL), a program that helps get children ready for kindergarten, beginning at birth. This week United Way, which administers the program, announces that an anonymous donor has come forward with a donation […]
Posted inSpecial Issues
A passionate and compassionate educator
A few years ago, Linda “Lin” Rakers of Springfield told her friend Barb Lestikow that she planned to go sky diving. “That was Lin,” explains Lestikow. “She always had a zest for life, and when she was determined to do something, she did it.” Another friend, Harriet Arkley, tells of the time years ago when […]
Posted inArts & Culture
World War II South Pacific vet remembers there was… “A lot of praying going on.”
To Ed Sathoff, 94, of Petersburg, Veterans Day is an important holiday. “It is hard to explain, but it means everything to me,” Sathoff says. “It means we must remember our freedoms. We have the freedom of speech, the freedom of religion and the God-given right to vote. Many other countries don’t have these rights.” […]
