This story was produced in partnership with the Pulitzer Center. For more stories about the effect of COVID-19 on museums, please visit the Prairie State Museums Project at PrairieStateMuseumsProject.org. The COVID-19 pandemic rocked the entire planet in 2020. The world has changed forever. Undoubtedly, history will record the number of cases and worldwide death toll, […]
Karen Ackerman Witter
Karen Ackerman Witter started freelance writing after a 35-year career in state government holding various senior leadership positions. Prior to retiring she was associate director of the Illinois State Museum for 14 years. She is the past president of the Kidzeum Board of Directors and is an active volunteer with the Rotary Club of Springfield Sunrise, Women for Women giving circle of the Community Foundation, NPR Illinois and other community organizations.
Posted inSpecial Issues
Finding a place for your parents
Many people want to stay in their homes as long as possible. However, more and more seniors are opting to move to a senior living community earlier, where they have opportunities for socialization and a host of amenities. Cost and availability are two major factors. However, many other issues should also be considered. Most important […]
Posted inNews
Venezuelan student shelters in Springfield
Sabrina Páez has a friendly smile, outgoing personality and is quick to engage in a lively conversation. Upon meeting her, it’s hard to believe she just turned 17. Páez has been attending Springfield High School since September as a Rotary Youth Exchange Student from Maracaibo, Venezuela. She should be headed to Grand Rapids with 500 […]
Posted inArts & Culture
Living well in the world
Nature lovers are sure to enjoy The Eight Master Lessons of Nature: What Nature Teaches Us About Living Well in the World, by Gary Ferguson. So should anyone worried by the global coronavirus pandemic and the dramatic changes in our world. People often see humans as outside of nature, rather than fundamentally connected to it. […]
Posted inOpinion
The other half of the Kidzeum story
I read Bruce Rushton’s opinion piece, Good news, bad news, expecting to read both good and bad news about Kidzeum. Unfortunately, he chose to present only bad news. The city council recently approved adding $50,001 for Kidzeum to the city’s budget after nearly 90 minutes of discussion. I provided testimony as the newly elected volunteer […]
Posted inNews
Oncologist enters Springfield High Hall of Fame
Michael Vasconcelles graduated from Springfield High School (SHS) in 1981 and went off to Northwestern University, initially terrified he wouldn’t be able to hold his own. Nearly 39 years later, he returned to SHS for the first time since graduation and was inducted into the SHS Hall of Fame. At an assembly in the auditorium […]
Posted inArts & Culture
On target
Ben Thompson grew up on a farm near Buffalo, 15 miles east of Springfield, and graduated from Tri-City High School in 2001. He was a farm boy who knew how to use a gun and a bow and enjoyed all kinds of sports. A talented multisport athlete, he participated in soccer, basketball and track. However, […]
Posted inArts & Culture
“New power” is taking over the world
This fascinating book explains the shift from old power to new power and how this is impacting politics, business and everyday life. Jeremy Heimans and Henry Timms describe “new power” as open, participatory, bottom-up and peer-driven. With new power, there is a belief in the wisdom of the crowd, transparency and a more open decision-making […]
Posted inArts & Culture
New year, new you
Some people start the New Year with gusto, resolutions firmly planted, determined to make big changes. Often the goals relate to health and fitness. Some prevail. Many do not. If that is you, go for it. But, if New Year’s resolutions aren’t your thing and you aren’t totally committed to what seems like a lot […]
Posted inArts & Culture
Sugar and the American diet
Sugar was first domesticated in New Guinea 10,000 years ago. Sugar cane spread to Asia and Europe, but was initially only available to the wealthy. Christopher Columbus first introduced sugar cane to the New World during his second voyage in 1493. Sugar cane grew well in the hot, humid conditions in the Caribbean. Native peoples […]
Posted inSpecial Issues
DR. TOWFIG MIR ARJMAND June 4, 1929-Aug. 23, 2019
“Towfig Arjmand always bore himself with dignity. He even bore i ndignities with dignity,” says Rabbi Michael Datz of Temple B’Rith Sholom. A resident of Springfield for more than 50 years, Arjmand was born in Kermanshah in western Iran. He came to work at St. John’s Hospital in 1966, which was the beginning of his […]
Posted inSpecial Issues
GUERRY SUGGS Nov. 1, 1938-April 9, 2019
Guerry Suggs always had a smile on his face, a twinkle in his eyes and was quick to tell a joke. First Citizen of Springfield, philanthropist, volunteer, friend, mentor, champion, servant leader and avid baseball fan are a few descriptors of this beloved community leader. Suggs graduated from Cornell University and had an MBA from […]
