Dottie Troop visits a lot of post offices but not to mail letters. Instead, she likes to gaze at Depression-era murals, the work of government-sponsored artists. More than 70 municipalities in Illinois have some form of post office art and, while Troop hasn’t visited all of them, she has made a dent in the list. […]
ReGen
Posted inSpecial Issues
A place for your parents
Becoming an empty-nester, retiring and caring for aging parents are life stages familiar to many. Springfield has numerous agencies that help seniors stay in their own home. Determining what’s best for your loved one can be daunting. Senior Services of Central Illinois (SSCI) is a good place to start. SSCI is a nonprofit organization that […]
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Experts in our community
Tattoo artistKevin Veara, 58 28 years of experience. Owner of Black Moon Tattoos, Springfield. Don’t get a tattoo in the summer. The best time of year for bikinis and pool parties is not so good for tattoo work. Too much direct sunlight is one of the worst things for your healing tattoo. “It’s a double-whammy,” […]
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Make your money last till you’re 100
Whether you buy Suze Orman’s claim that she owns only one pair of gold earrings, or accept all of her financial advice, chances are you have seen her on TV, bluntly stating what people should and should not do for their financial security. In her latest book, The Ultimate Retirement Guide for 50+:Winning Strategies to […]
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Museum quality
When they hear the name Nell Clay, many in Springfield think of the Springfield and Central Illinois African American History Museum. And they should. “I want to make our museum a must-see,” Nell says delightedly. While COVID-19 has closed the museum for now, work doesn’t stop. Nell is busy updating the museum’s webpage and posting […]
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Explore outdoors at state parks
If you have a raging case of cabin fever, you can break it with a visit to state parks in central Illinois. A short drive to Clinton Lake, Sangchris Lake or Jim Edgar Panther Creek State Fish and Wildlife Area may be just the cure. All three offer wildlife, water and woods, with plenty of […]
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Community chef
Masked in a red bandana on a foggy Wednesday morning, Chef Michael Higgins surveys a farmers market table stacked high with early spring produce. He selects several bunches of fat green garlic, makes arrangements to pick up some arugula later, then follows the one-way arrows taped on the concrete to the next vendor. A regular […]
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Finding a place for your parents
Many people want to stay in their homes as long as possible. However, more and more seniors are opting to move to a senior living community earlier, where they have opportunities for socialization and a host of amenities. Cost and availability are two major factors. However, many other issues should also be considered. Most important […]
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Milestone birthdays
Bill Nichols Aug. 14, 1940 I live in Jacksonville and own an insurance agency. I have been in the insurance business for 52 years and I’m still working. I will be celebrating my 80th birthday this year. I was born in a farmhouse in rural White Hall, Illinois. Being the last of eight kids, I […]
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Bold 60s fashion is always in style
Setting the tone for modern style, the trends of the 60s are still popular today. Bold colors and striking cuts defined the decade in fashion. “When I choose things for my shop I try to find pieces that look current, look classic,” says Linda Renehan of Springfield Vintage in downtown Springfield. “And I think that’s […]
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Share your love of music
I’m almost 55 years old, grew up near Rockford and I’m listening to a Cheap Trick record as I write this. Sounds clichéd, right? Do I seem less of a stereotype if I tell you that I’m listening to the band’s 1994 release, “Woke Up With A Monster?,” which no one but the band members […]
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Putting the pieces together
Springfieldians Doug Mayol and Amy Haugh have spent part of their pandemic lives putting pieces together. Both are fans of jigsaw puzzles, which have spiked in popularity during stay-at-home orders this spring Mayol says online and curbside sales of puzzles helped his downtown business, The Cardologist, stay afloat until he could open the doors May […]
