Jeff Miller, a 52-year-old Chatham resident, has been donating blood since the late 1980s. He started while working for the Jacksonville Police Department when his sergeant asked him if he wanted to donate, and he did so regularly until moving to Springfield to join the Springfield Fire Department. He recalls a time when his unit […]
Roberta Codemo
Posted inSpecial Issues
Local theater for teens
Fifteen-year-old Brigid Wilhite of Springfield got her first taste of performing in first grade when she played the role of the wind-up mouse in The Velveteen Rabbit. “I loved how sassy the role was,” the Springfield High School student said. “I knew from that moment she had star quality,” says Springfield Theatre Centre president Cynthia […]
Posted inSpecial Issues
Tips for decluttering and organizing your home
Thanks in part to Marie Kondo’s popular Netflix show and best-selling books, the latest fad sweeping the country is decluttering and organizing your home. Most Americans have way too much stuff and clutter can take over every aspect of our lives. However, the process can often feel so overwhelming that people don’t know where to […]
Posted inSpecial Issues
How to recycle and reuse
You’ve done your spring cleaning and decluttered your home and garage. What do you do now with unwanted items if you don’t want to put them in the trash? The City of Springfield offers free drop-off services for certain types of hard-to-dispose-of items for residents who live within the corporate city limits. These programs are […]
Posted inSpecial Issues
Book lovers, unite
Book clubs are a great place to meet and socialize with fellow book lovers. Now that spring is coming, this is the time to shake off the winter doldrums and get out of the house and check out a few of the clubs around the area. With more than two dozen to choose from, there […]
Posted inSpecial Issues
Springfield Maker Space
On Sunday afternoons, you can find a congenial group of people gathered in the old Watts Brothers Pharmacy building, located at 1227 S. Pasfield in Springfield, working on a variety of projects. One recent Sunday, the discussion turned to how to make rag rugs. Several people in the group expressed an interest and decided to […]
Posted inSpecial Issues
Virtual doctor’s office visits offer convenience
When you’re sick, you no longer have to go to your physician’s office and wait to be seen. Thanks to today’s new digital technologies, patients and clinicians can now connect virtually in real time from any location. HSHS Medical Group launched its virtual telemedicine service called Anytime Care in 2015. “We wanted to target after-hours […]
Posted inNews
Making Springfield a stop on the monarch migration
One of the first reported sightings of a monarch butterfly in the Springfield area was on May 9, according to the website Journey North. The first monarchs usually arrive in April and May. Beginning in February, monarchs – which weigh no more than a paper clip – begin an amazing 3,000-mile journey northward from their […]
Posted inSpecial Issues
Living it up at the senior celebration
More than 2,500 people attended the 20th annual Central Illinois Senior Celebration May 16 at the Illinois State Fairgrounds. The theme this year was “Engage at Every Age.” The event is held each May, and coincides with the Administration for Community Living’s Older Americans Month. “It’s a big undertaking,” said Jean Welch with Senior Services […]
Posted inArts & Culture
Healthy mouth, healthy body
The mouth serves as a gateway to the body. There is a connection between oral health and general health. Our mouth can tell us whether we’re at risk for developing chronic inflammatory health conditions, such as cardiovascular disease and diabetes. More than 300 different kinds of bacteria live in the mouth. While some bacteria are […]
Posted inOpinion
Ovarian cancer awareness grows
The Abraham Lincoln Presidential Museum was lit up in teal last month in honor of National Ovarian Cancer Awareness Month. The month was dedicated to raising awareness about ovarian cancer and honoring those women who have lost their lives and who are still fighting this deadly disease. This was the first time a community in […]
Posted inSpecial Issues
Central Illinois safari
James Aikman was surprised more people didn’t think he was crazy when he announced plans to build a wildlife park. Located between Arthur and Arcola, the 40-acre park opened in March 2016 on the former Rockome Gardens property. Since opening, Aikman Wildlife Adventure has drawn more than 32,000 visitors. “I’m pleased with the reception we’ve […]
