Untitled Document Sherry Williams no longer answers her cell phone, at least not when I ring her. If I want to arrange a play date between her adorable daughter and my adoring son, I have to type a text message to Sherry’s phone. The fact that she doesn’t respond to a jingle isn’t personal, she […]
Community & Lifestyle
Posted inArts & Culture
Growing grapes
Untitled Document Did you know that the grapevine is one of the oldest cultivated plants in the world? Whether as a source of grapes or as an attractive addition to the landscape, grapevines are popular among home gardeners. Grapes can be grown successfully in Illinois — if a variety adapted to our growing conditions is […]
Posted inArts & Culture
Bringing soccer to Springfield
Untitled Document The late 1960s and early ’70s were a time of significant change for Springfield, as its institutions of higher education — Sangamon State University, Lincoln Land Community College, and the Southern Illinois University School of Medicine — took shape. The universities helped make the capital city a more diverse and international community. It […]
Posted inArts & Culture
Compost bin demonstration
Untitled Document Three years ago, a friend of mine spent a fall day driving around Springfield, collecting bags of leaves. Sure, it sounds crazy — most homeowners can’t wait to get rid of the leaves that pile up on their yards — but my friend was able to turn these leaves into “black gold.” She […]
Posted inArts & Culture
Paper or plastic?
Untitled Document OK, once and for all, which is more environmentally friendly, paper or plastic, at the grocery checkout? The city of San Francisco recently banned plastic bags. Large supermarkets and pharmacies there must eliminate plastic shopping bags by early 2008 in favor of bags made either from paper or compostable and biodegradable cornstarch. The […]
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Healthy baby food
Untitled Document Where does one turn in order to give babies fresh, organic food? Babies deserve the best possible start in life, so giving them nutritious food is a must, not only for good health but also to establish positive eating habits as early as possible. According to Consumers Union, publisher of Consumer Reports magazine, commercial […]
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Time to plant garlic
Untitled Document This fall while adding daffodils to your landscape, don’t forget to plant some garlic. Garlic has been cultivated for thousands of years and is still popular today as a flavoring in food dishes and for its medicinal properties. Though a member of the onion family, garlic differs from onions in flavor, leaves and […]
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We need rain
Untitled Document The crisp, cool air has been a welcome relief from the 90-degree temperatures, but we have not been as blessed with rainfall. Last week I dug a hole for an addition to my garden. I had to wedge my body between the fence and the shovel to get enough leverage to break the […]
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The dirt on soap
Untitled Document Are antibacterial soaps better than plain soaps? University of Michigan researchers reviewed numerous studies conducted between 1980 and 2006 and concluded that antibacterial soaps containing triclosan as the main active ingredient are no better at preventing infections than plain soaps. Further, the team argued that these antibacterial soaps could actually pose a health […]
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Browning evergreen foliage
Untitled Document Every fall, people get upset when their evergreens undergo dramatic changes in color. “People are convinced that their plants must have some type of virus or fungus and want to know what can be done,” says Martha Smith, a horticulture educator with the University of Illinois Extension. “There is really nothing to be […]
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Removing land mines
Untitled Document What is the status of the land mines issue popularized by Princess Diana and Paul McCartney’s ex-wife, Heather Mills? Land mines were first widely used in World War II and have since been used in Vietnam, the Korean War, the first Gulf War, and in about a half-dozen conflicts around the world today. […]
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Lightning strikes again
Untitled Document Everybody knows what “DNA” stands for — not just deoxyribo nucleic acid but also “do not argue.” It’s a conversation-ender, the kind of irrefutable proof that sends criminals to death row and springs the innocent from decades of imprisonment. So earlier this year, when I met Cheyenne Siebert — an 11-year-old cutie whose […]
