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 […]
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
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, […]
Posted inNews
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 […]
Posted inSpecial Issues
Washington Park native plant restoration
The native plant restoration at the fishing pier in Washington Park is a tremendous example of what can happen when enthusiastic volunteers partner with a public agency that wants to do the right thing but lacks the manpower. Last spring 1,000 native plants were planted between the road and fishing pier at the Washington Park […]
Posted inSpecial Issues
Bees, Butterflies & Blooms
Bees, Butterflies & Blooms is a new exhibit at Kidzeum that focuses on the importance of protecting native plants and pollinators. It features an observation beehive, live butterfly enclosure, pollinator garden, video interactives and family-focused educational play spaces. Kids can see real monarch chrysalises, watch live bees, swing in a chrysalis chair, don a beekeeper’s suit […]
Posted inArts & Culture
Pathways to Watercolor
Pathways to Watercolor opens at the Springfield Art Association on April 5 and continues through April 27. Curated by Rod Buffington, the exhibit features highly diverse work by Sandy Meyer, Robert Mejer and Buffington – three artists applying very different techniques to create their art, but all using watercolor as their media. All are highly […]
Posted inNews
Stormy comes to Springfield
Stormy Daniels walked from her car to the Lincoln statue on the grounds of the Illinois State Capitol, gave her brief prepared remarks and left without taking questions. She was protesting the “pole tax” (Live Adult Entertainment Facility Surcharge Act), which strip clubs pay to help fund rape crisis centers. She said, “Rape crisis centers […]
