One sure-fire way to get men to lay down their arms is for all the women to keep their legs crossed. That’s the premise of the play Lysistrata, a bawdy anti-war comedy first performed in 411 BC and the subject of performances worldwide on Monday. Written by the Greek satirist Aristophanes, the play tells how […]
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Parole officer
Nancy Bowman, 45, has been a parole officer for 13 years. Originally from Salisbury, North Carolina, she relocated to the Springfield area after graduating from Southern Illinois University. Last week she spoke with writer Traci Moyer about her career choice. She sat in a high-backed chair, which dwarfed her petite five-foot-two-inch frame. Her soft Southern […]
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A new fight for equal rights
Three pieces of legislation were debated a few weeks ago at a low-key hearing of the Illinois House’s civil-law committee. One bill would allow trusts for pets. Another would grant elderly victims of crimes the right to give depositions at home. Both proposals were sent to the full House with no objections, 18 to 0. […]
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Jammed packed
Even people who aren’t supporters of Karen Hasara will admit she’s done a lot of good during her two terms as Springfield’s first woman mayor. She’s furthered the development of downtown and helped to build the new Abraham Lincoln Presidential Library and Museum. She’s brought in outside experts to suggest ways to beautify the city. […]
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Dead air
If you noticed a camera crew shooting around town this week, don’t get too excited: Reese Witherspoon and Sally Fields aren’t back. In fact, this is one production you definitely don’t want to be an extra in–unless, that is, you have a case of progressive rigor mortis. It’s a pilot for a television show tentatively […]
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Front yard runners
Beth Ross’s lawn is attracting double takes. While most of her neighbors have planted signs touting their favorite mayoral candidates, Ross’s yard looks like it belongs to someone who’s proud to remain undecided: It has side-by-side signs for Tim Davlin and Tony Libri. “It’s made for a good conversation piece,” Ross says with a laugh. […]
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Stop the music?
When Ken Duffy took over Walko Music Co. in 1980, the store had been renting band instruments to Springfield schools for 25 years. But last semester Duffy saw a “25 percent” drop in his rental business. The decline will become even more drastic if District 186 continues to cut funds to band programs. That outrages […]
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Homeland Insecurity
Before the United States was thrown into uncertainty and grief on September 11, 2001, Springfield residents were the target of a terrorist attack. In the spring of 2001, only months before the World Trade Center tragedy, a group of terrorists were discovered on the Illinois Sate Fairgrounds during a defense department exercise. They were mixing […]
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A peace marcher’s progress report
On February 15, I was in New York City for the international day of protest called “The World Says No to War.” It was biting cold, and I had to double up on everything: two pairs of socks, long underwear plus my warm pants, earmuffs under a hood, finger gloves covered by mittens. The huge […]
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First Draft
In January, as U.S. troops massed for a possible war with Iraq, Congressman Charles Rangel (D-N.Y.) proposed something no lawmaker had done in years: legislation to reinstitute the draft. Rangel’s idea sparked several weeks of lively debate in the halls of government, on TV pundit shows, and in the op-ed pages. Proponents and opponents of […]
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Policing the police
The City Council meeting was packed with angry citizens outraged over the latest scandal in the Springfield Police Department. Mayor Karen Hasara tried pounding her gavel, she tried apologizing, and she even tried publicly admitting that, yes, “there is racism in the department.” Finally, she tried promising a citizen review board, and police chief John […]
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On guard
Springfield’s oldest crossing guard, Herman Hamilton, works down the block from Dubois Elementary School. He directs traffic at the corner of Monroe and Lincoln while puffing on an ever-present pipe. On Valentine’s Day, Hamilton bought an exact number of suckers for every child on his watch. He handed out the candy as he talked to […]
