“A well-informed citizenry is the backbone of a healthy democracy,” writes Lindsey Cormack in her 2024 book How to Raise a Citizen (And Why It’s Up to You to Do It). She contends that raising engaged and informed citizens is an often-overlooked aspect of parenting. Cormack persuasively argues that parents have an essential role in […]
Karen Witter
Posted inArts & Culture
Rev. Dr. Blythe Kieffer retiring as pastor of Westminster Presbyterian Church
The Rev. Dr. Blythe Kieffer is retiring from Westminster Presbyterian Church, 533 S. Walnut St., after serving as pastor and head of staff for 12 years. She will give her final sermon, “Gratitude,” on Sunday, Aug. 24, at 10 a.m. in the church sanctuary. Special music will be presented by the Westminster Choir and Dale […]
Posted inNews
50501 protest held outside Capitol
A 50501 protest took place in front of the Capitol on Saturday, May 3. The grassroots movement has been organizing gatherings in all 50 states to protest the actions of the Trump administration. An initial protest in Springfield was held Feb. 5, one of dozens of protests that took place across the nation that day. […]
Posted inNews
International Women’s Day: Unite & Resist in Springfield
International Women’s Day has been celebrated since March 8, 1913. Hundreds of people showed up at the Illinois State Capitol on Saturday for International Women’s Day – Unite & Resist in Springfield to speak out for women’s rights and protest actions by President Donald Trump and Elon Musk. Speakers included Martin Woulfe (Abraham Lincoln Unitarian […]
Posted inArts & Culture
History of the Cliff Hotel
Initially a boarding/rooming house, the Cliff House/Cliff Hotel operated between ca. 1910 and 1960 and by 1965 was abandoned. Florence and George Atkinson were the longest-serving proprietors, operating the hotel between 1915 and 1949. (George died in 1923.) Architect Bruce Ferry acquired the building in 2006. He restored the façade and cleaned the interior, preserving […]
Posted inNews
Monoclonal antibody treatment available in Springfield
COVID-19 cases are on the rise in Sangamon County. The Omicron variant has not yet been identified here, but it’s just a matter of time. Only 59.47% of the population in Sangamon County is fully vaccinated, and vaccination rates have stagnated. Consequently, COVID will continue to be an ongoing concern. Gail O’Neill, director of Sangamon […]
Posted inNews
Festival of Trees moving downtown
Memorial’s Festival of Trees is one of Springfield’s most popular holiday events, attracting 30,000-35,000 visitors in recent years. Big changes are coming to this year’s event. For the first time, the Festival of Trees will be held throughout downtown Springfield and will be free of charge. For years hundreds of creatively decorated trees and wreaths, […]
Posted inOpinion
Buzz at Reopened Kidzeum
Things were buzzing at the Kidzeum over the July 3-4 weekend. Children rushed to climb Active Alex, splashed in the water table and searched for queen cells in the observation beehive. “Real bees? That’s so cool!” one girl squealed in delight upon seeing the buzzing beehive. Kidzeum reopened July 3 after a 16-month closure due […]
Posted inSpecial Issues
Golf has many devotees. But is it a workout?
Many of us marveled at Olympic athletes performing amazing feats on skis, snowboards, skates and bobsleds. Clearly these athletes are passionate about their sport. But they are not likely to still be barreling down the track or completing triple axels when they are seniors. Golfers are also passionate about their sport, and the passion can […]
Posted inArts & Culture
A program to prevent Alzheimer’s
Dale E. Bredesen’s 2017 book, The End of Alzheimer’s, provides a new perspective on this debilitating and dreaded disease. Subtitled The First Program to Prevent and Reverse Cognitive Decline, the book includes stories of individuals with Alzheimer’s who have improved their cognitive function. The audience for this book includes those already suffering cognitive decline, individuals […]
