Many of the women who have participated in the Women’s Distance Festival over the years continue to run and live a life of exercise and fitness. Each has a different story as to how she got involved in running and stuck with it, but they all cite the lasting friendships they have forged and the […]
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 inArts & Culture
New ISM director nationally recognized
The Illinois State Museum has hired a leader in the museum field to serve as its director. Cinnamon Catlin-Legutko will assume her new position Sept. 9. She comes to the Illinois State Museum from Bar Harbor, Maine, where she directed the Abbe Museum for a decade. Prior to leading the Abbe as president and CEO, […]
Posted inNews
Her flag
Marilyn Artus, a visual artist from Oklahoma City, was in Springfield as part of a 14-month collaborative art project commemorating the 100th anniversary of the ratification of the 19th Amendment giving women the right to vote. Artus came up with the idea to create an enormous flag with stripes made by women artists from each […]
Posted inArts & Culture
Please touch the art
“Please Touch the Art Gently” is not your typical sign posted in an art gallery. But, that is the message in a new exhibit at the Springfield Art Association from June 1-29. “What Art Feels Like” features metal and wood sculptures, paper, fiber, collage, glass, woodturning, ceramics and paintings made by 14 Illinois artists and […]
Posted inSpecial Issues
Take a Museum Hack tour
A trip to the Art Institute of Chicago is a popular excursion while visiting the Windy City. The bridge from Millennium Park beckons you to cross over the street below to an outdoor area on the top floor of the Art Institute with sweeping views of the skyline and Millennium Park. The Art Institute of […]
Posted inArts & Culture
Fiction by a fact man
Taylor Pensoneau’s name is familiar in these environs. He’s known for his long affiliation with the St. Louis Post-Dispatch writing about Illinois politics, his influential role with the Illinois Coal Association and his books about former governors and southern Illinois gangsters. He’s the author and contributing author of seven nonfiction books. His most recent book, […]
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Consultant: Retire three of CWLP’s coal-fired plants
How can Springfield’s City Water, Light and Power (CWLP) best provide electrical power to meet the community’s future energy needs? Retiring Dallman Units 1, 2 and 3 coal-fired plants, increasing the use of renewable energy and expanding energy efficiency are some of the recommendations included in a recently released report. Last year the city hired […]
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Pana’s solar car on the road
Energetic high school students from Pana adopted a can-do spirit, built a solar-powered car, entered the 2018 Solar Car Challenge road race from Fort Worth, Texas, to Palmdale, California, and came in fifth place. They were awarded best first-year solar car team displaying the highest level of technological achievement. Katelyn Townsend, a freshman, and Lucas […]
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The SHS grad who helps families make babies
The Springfield High School (SHS) Hall of Fame honors graduates who have achieved national eminence. Pamela Cohen Hirsch, class of 1964, is the most recent honoree, inducted March 29 at a ceremony in the Springfield High School auditorium. After a highly successful business career, Hirsch founded the nonprofit Baby Quest Foundation in 2012. The organization […]
Posted inSpecial Issues
Landscape with native plants and pollinators
It’s finally that time of year to be outside, clean up the leaves and residue from winter and plant flowers, herbs, vegetables, trees and shrubs. This is a perfect time to plan ahead and commit to planting natives that attract pollinators. There are many resources to help you get started and some exciting projects around […]
Posted inSpecial Issues
Mayor’s monarch pledge
Planters and bumpouts along Sixth Street and Adams Street in downtown Springfield will be planted with native perennials to attract pollinators. Volunteers working with the city of Springfield and Downtown Springfield, Inc., helped obtain a grant from the Springfield Civic Garden Club for this pilot project. Plants will be selected that will bloom from May […]
Posted inArts & Culture
Native plant sales
In April and May there are several plant sales, which provide an excellent opportunity to purchase native plants as well as talk to knowledgeable people.Lincoln Memorial Garden plant sales“We are promoting plants for pollinators, butterflies and native birds,” says Larry Miller, Lincoln Memorial Garden head gardener. He is growing over 95 species of plants in […]
