Old Capitol Farmers Market8 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. Wednesdays and Saturdays through October Fresh cheese, bread, meat, spices, herbs and locally grown produce can all be part of your summer menu thanks to this year’s Old Capitol Farmers Market. Presented by St. John’s Hospital and Downtown Springfield, Inc., the market opened for the season May […]
Special Issues
Posted inSpecial Issues
Summer theatrical fare covers all the bases
No matter what your taste in theater might be, whether it’s light musical comedy, modern musical bombast, prize-winning drama, kid-friendly shows or Pythonesque parody, at least one of the regional theaters has you covered. Here is a rundown of some of the shows on offer this summer. New Salem’s Theatre in the Park will kick […]
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Museum outings for families
Families looking for a fun, lively, learning excursion this summer don’t have to look far. Central Illinois is home to several family friendly museums that offer engaging permanent installations and special events for all ages. Here is a look at four great destinations within 90 miles of home, including one right here in Springfield. Illinois […]
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Parenting issues in Lincoln’s Springfield
Many of the issues parents face today would have seemed like science fiction in Abraham Lincoln’s time. How do we monitor our kids’ online activities? At what age should they get cell phones? How do we balance “screen time” with sports, homework and playing outside? Yet as far as parenting philosophies go, the Lincolns and […]
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Forget the lemonade
As summer approaches, you and your kids may have different ideas about how they’ll spend their time. Many parents are eager to get their kids interested in working – that is learning to take responsibility, developing a work ethic, earning their own spending money, etc. Of course, many kids see summer as their chance to […]
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Which eldercare facility is best for your family?
My grandfather, Charles Faingold, was a vital, robust guy for most of his life. At different points during his young manhood in Minneapolis and Chicago he plied his trade as both a wrestler and an accountant. He lucked into a job with the U.S. Postal Service just before the Great Depression hit, managing to remain […]
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Children’s books by local authors appeal to all ages
The Place Where We Live Ken Bradbury and Steve Varble, illustrator Bookkrafters, Jacksonville Lifelong teacher Ken Bradbury of Arenzville is well known in these parts as playwright and theater director. He has had more than 300 plays and musicals published. Designing and building theater sets for numerous Bradbury productions was freelance designer Steven Varble […]
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Grow spinach, tasty, cool and easy
The arrival of yellow daffodils, green lawns and garden fresh salad are sure signs of spring. Leafy greens are among the easiest vegetables to grow, according to a University of Illinois Extension horticulture educator. “You are sure to enjoy the best-tasting salad with greens that you have grown,” promised Jennifer Fishburn. “Spring greens such as […]
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Home sweet ‘green’ home
When Harv Koplo and Annette Chinuge met at Sangamon State University during the 1970s they had no idea their interest in preserving the earth would lead them to become pioneers for sustainable living in Springfield. “Nobody had heard of green or sustainable, but that doesn’t mean the principles weren’t there,” said Chinuge. “I think it […]
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Beat the heat with less air conditioning
It doesn’t seem possible, but 60 years ago people survived without air conditioning. Not only did they survive, but they may have even enjoyed life more, since they actually went outside in summertime and talked to their neighbors. Today the only people without it are the poor and radical environmentalists doing their part to avert […]
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Rain barrels save dollars and make sense
The drought of 2012 took a great toll, not only on the plants in the garden, but also on the gardener’s wallet. “It was tough for some gardeners to decide which plants to water and which to let survive on their own,” said University of Illinois horticulture educator Candice Miller. “Unfortunately, if a gardener did […]
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New and recommended flowers and vegetables
There seems to be an award for everything, whether it is for the best picture, best actor, best country music video or best automobile for 2013, and gardening is no exception, said a University of Illinois Extension horticulture educator. “There are plenty of ‘new’ things out there to try. For many gardeners, the problem is […]
