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 […]
Community & Lifestyle
Posted inFall Guide
Fall Guide
The annual Fall Guide issue has info on family friendly activities, fall gardening, upcoming theater and art shows and an expanded three-month calendar of events.
Posted inArts & Culture
Comfort ye, comfort ye my people
The reading of Scripture at Sabbath and holiday prayer services has been a feature of Jewish congregational worship for nearly two millennia. The precedent for a public reading of Scripture goes back to Moses’s instruction to the Israelites to read the Torah aloud once every seven years to all the people – men, women and […]
Posted inArts & Culture
UIS launches $42.5M Library Commons project
Excitement is growing at the University of Illinois Springfield as construction is underway on the new Library Commons building. The publicly funded project was made possible by a $42.5 million investment from the state of Illinois. The three-story, 52,000-square-foot building is being built next to the Student Union and is expected to open in 2027. […]
Posted inArts & Culture
Springfield boy places first in statewide photography contest
Ten-year-old Jerry Feng of Springfield took home top honors in the 2025 Cream of the Crop Photo contest, which encourages young photographers to share their vision of agriculture in the state. State Treasurer Michael Frerichs hosted a reception Aug. 8 in the Illinois Department of Agriculture’s tent at the Illinois State Fairgrounds to honor the first-place winners. […]
Posted inArts & Culture
When beer was banned at the Illinois State Fair
Acting on complaints from church groups and parents, the administration of Gov. William G. Stratton prohibited the sale of beer at the 1953 Illinois State Fair. The ban on beer, as well as on any other alcoholic beverage, remained in effect for the next 21 years. “People don’t want a state fair that smells like the […]
Posted inArts & Culture
Where to see the Budweiser Clydesdales
Springfield-area residents will have numerous opportunities to see the iconic Budweiser Clydesdales, both at the Illinois State Fair and several special appearances. Springfield is one of the stops on a cross-country tour to celebrate 15 years of partnership between Budweiser and Folds of Honor, a nonprofit organization that provides families of fallen or disabled U.S. […]
Posted inArts & Culture
Take the family to the fair for a fair price
A trip to the Illinois State Fair can be an expensive endeavor, especially with family in tow. Thankfully, there are a multitude of ways to maximize value and get the most out of your fair experience. “We offer over 160 hours of free entertainment each day,” Illinois State Fair Manager Rebecca Clark explained. With so […]
Posted inArts & Culture
Let’s build communities of creative love
With how many “trinities” are you familiar? Christian belief holds at its center the Father, Son and Spirit. Chefs might refer to a “trinity” of ingredients. For Cajun cooks its onions, green peppers and celery. Italians drop the peppers and add carrots. Preachers like to lead you through three points in a homily. Then there […]
Posted inArts & Culture
Miniature butter cows on display
Farm scenes, naturally, inspire each year’s new sculpture of the beloved butter cow at the Illinois State Fair. However, sculptors participating in the annual Miniature Butter Cow Contest sponsored by Illinois Times and Prairie Farms Dairy don’t have that limitation. Inspiration can come from anywhere. Even viral internet items. Just ask contestant Amy Hood of […]
Posted inArts & Culture
A growing passion for agriculture
When most people think of agriculture, they picture tractors, cows and endless fields of corn. I used to think that way, too, until I found myself standing in a hazelnut orchard in Italy, tasting freshly crushed hazelnut spread and listening to a farmer explain how pests and diseases are changing the way his family works […]
Posted inArts & Culture
What I did for love
As a young woman, I saw the 1975 musical A Chorus Line. Set on the stage of a Broadway theater, the musical provides a glimpse into the personalities of 17 Broadway dancers auditioning for spots on the chorus line as they describe the events that have shaped their lives and their decisions to become dancers. […]
