Together Women Rise is “a beacon of hope,” says CEO Beverley Francis-Gibson. This national nonprofit, formerly called Dining for Women, funds projects that change the lives of women and girls in countries with higher levels of poverty, income inequality, lower life expectancy and harsh living conditions. Collective giving by nearly 5,000 members makes this possible. […]
Karen Witter
Posted inCapital City Parent
Teach children citizenship
How to Raise a Citizen (And Why It’s Up to You to Do It) by Lindsey Cormack. Jossey-Bass, publisher, 2024. $15.80. “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 […]
Posted inNews
No Kings rally held in Springfield
Peaceful No Kings rallies took place March 28 in cities all over the U.S., including Springfield, to protest policies of the Trump Administration. This was the third No Kings rally in front of the Lincoln statue on the State House grounds. This time Second Street and Capitol Street were closed to vehicles. People filled the […]
Posted inBooks
Teach children citizenship
“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 […]
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, […]
