George Colin doesn’t exhibit at the Old Capitol Art Fair. He doesn’t need to. The 74-year-old Colin has become a folk-art phenomenon since he retired in 1977 from Pillsbury Mills, where he sacked flour for 30 years. Actually Colin did show some paintings at the very first Old Capitol Art Fair in 1962, but one […]
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Perfect Match
Patty Hoffman, a trim, 57-year-old redhead with sensible Aunt Bea shoes, a ready smile, and an encylopedic knowledge of the city’s streets, has been driving a bus for the Springfield Mass Transit District since October 1, 1977. Over the years, she has safely delivered thousands of riders to their destinations with nary a mishap or […]
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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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Seeking asylums
In a 40-year-old photo from the Jacksonville Developmental Center, an unidentified woman crouches in a hallway with walls marked by divots and flaking paint. Her face is hidden under her arms. A caption reads, “Did this woman have people who loved her? Did they visualize her huddled in this corner? How could we not care […]
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Pulliam’s pit
A recent archaeological dig in west central Illinois has revealed a bit of early Sangamon County history. Robert Pulliam, believed to be our area’s first settler, was remembered as a rough-and-rowdy pioneer who led a band of three men and one woman into present-day Sangamon County in the fall of 1817. They grazed cattle, hunted, […]
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Getting in with the in crowd
What could a motorcyclists’ advocacy group possibly have in common with the Illinois Arts Council? Members of ABATE (A Brotherhood Aimed Toward Education) champions the right to ride without helmets, while the arts council wants more money for music, art, and poetry. But both organizations know their way around the Capitol dome and, more importantly, […]
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Not tonight, honey: there’s a war on
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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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 […]
