As the University of Illinois Springfield in October 2008 made another move toward full membership in the National Collegiate Athletic Association, then-Chancellor Richard Ringeisen said the eventual achievement could only mean good things for the school’s future. He said he was excited because joining the Great Lakes Valley Conference, an academically high-achieving NCAA Division II […]
Community & Lifestyle
Get your vitamins here
Science fiction would have us believe that one day in the future we’ll get all our food through little pills. Many of us have started down that path by opting for a handful of supplements in order to compensate for not eating right. Dawn Jackson Blatner, RD, Northwestern Memorial Hospital Wellness Institute, Chicago, subscribes to […]
Fitness at home
So the economy has you rethinking that gym membership, and now you’d like to start working out at home – but you don’t know where to put all that cumbersome exercise equipment. Or perhaps, you already have the equipment, but your Nordic Track has become just another interesting focal point in the family room and […]
Happy feet
Most of us use our feet all day, every day – for work, for play, to get to our car , to get a drink of water, to get ourselves to the bathroom. With all of this walking, it’s not surprising that there are more than 300 types of foot problems that can develop. More […]
Just get started
It happened so subtly that I hardly noticed. From junior high through the beginning of college, I got fat. At just over six feet tall and weighing more than 270 pounds, I was positively obese – nearly 100 pounds over my ideal weight. I felt isolated and humiliated every time I went clothes shopping for […]
How to talk weight
You may approach the subject with the best of intentions, but nutritionists recommend you don’t talk to your teen daughter about dieting, and do not put her on a diet. “If you decide your daughter truly has a weight problem, she’s going to know it, too,” says Dayle Hayes, a dietitian and mother. “It’s critical […]
Breathe easy
Strong diaphragms aren’t the cause celebre of the fitness world, but becoming a better breather can enhance your life – and your appearance – as much as a firm backside and killer thighs. From stress relief to weight loss to muscle toning, making the most of what’s generally an automatic action will increase your energy […]
Sugar, sugar
If shedding those extra pounds is your top New Year’s resolution, health experts say you should start small – with your sweet tooth. According to the latest figures from the United States Department of Agriculture, the average American consumes around 140 pounds of added sugar (refined sugar, corn sweeteners, honey and edible syrups) each year. […]
Get back to basics
A peek inside the typical kitchen cupboard will give you a short history of American weight-loss fads. Every promise for a skinnier life, from fat-free to high-protein to reduced-carbohydrate foods, is reflected in a product tucked in the back of the shelves gathering dust. “People are spinning, they’re latching onto gimmicks and many aren’t getting […]
MARY CATHERINE SCHWESKA
It was with a heavy heart that I plugged in our Christmas tree this year. I am certain that the lights are not nearly as bright as they were last year. Something is missing from the usual festivities. It is the first Christmas without my husband’s grandmother. Grandma Schweska shone especially bright this time of […]
‘He could win people over with a wink of an eye.’
The solemn drone of bagpipes fills the cold winter air as hundreds of pensive mourners shuffle into the towering white stone church. Inside sits a family coping with the sudden, unexplainable loss of a father, son, brother and friend. Between the wooden pews lay the body of Springfield mayor Tim Davlin, who served the city […]
MALIK J. HINES
Malik Hines, a Springfield High School senior who, along with freshman Zena Garcia, died in a car accident in November, was known for his talents and for his unique sense of style. But what at least two of his friends will remember most is Hines’ smile. “I’m pretty sure that his job here [on Earth] […]
