A SWEET DEAL
Springfield resident Glenn Yanow was named the 2009 Baskin-Robbins Franchisee of the Year, honoring him as top role model for the company. Yanow was recognized at the fourth annual Dunkin’ Brands Franchisee and Enterprise Awards on March 24 in New Orleans. Yanow is an active member of the MacArthur Boulevard Business Association and belongs to…
Paramount pirouettes
Joining the Springfield Ballet Company on stage and dancing in tights for a humorous evening dubbed Men in Tights are local business leaders and personalities: Ed Cully of Michel & Cully Claims Service; Kirk Farah, WMAY; Randy Martin, M.D., Springfield cardiologist; Pat Phillips, Springfield High School; Paul LaMantia, LaMantia Creative; Joshua Ratz and Jake Smith,…
Killing the competition
Golly, whatever happened to America’s good ol’, bold-and-brassy, can-do competitive drive? To see a troubling sign for our nation’s famed, free-enterprise frontier spirit, sneak a peek at the downward flight path of America’s major airlines. These corporations have become no-can-do, anti-competition behemoths, whining that there are too many airlines, too many planes, too much competition.…
The Losers lives up to its name
Seems as though either superheroes or alien robots have dominated the last few summer movie seasons. That’s not the case in 2010 as action-adventures focusing on rogue, elite military forces are now in vogue. We’ll be dodging bullets with The A-Team in June and Sylvester Stallone leads the most testosterone-heavy cast in film history when…
Don’t be duped by nuclear power
Nuclear power has never lived up to the promises of its backers. Their latest claim — that nuclear energy represents an easy answer to global warming — has as much validity as that old industry chestnut of producing energy “too cheap to meter.” Let’s not be duped again. Four decades ago, when I served as…
Proposed ‘clean coal’ plant has drawbacks
Taylorville Energy Center, a proposed “clean coal” power plant, is backed by supporters for its eco-friendliness and job creation potential, but some environmental and business groups say the project may cause more harm than good for Illinois. Taylorville Energy Center, which could generate enough electricity to power about 600,000 homes, is currently under review by…
Riveting rock n’ roll
Silly Joel is a five-member Billy Joel cover band from Illinois that not only performs rockin’ music but sometimes pops out into Weird Al-style high jinks. They perform May 1 at the Hoogland to celebrate the famous singer/songwriter who was born May 9, 1949. Organizers promise costumes, merriment, silliness and special guests. The band includes:…
Kickn’ karate
Steve Stark, Seibushi, of Kansas and Bill Gossett, Koubushi, of Missouri will teach advanced concepts and principals of the ancient life protection arts of Okinawa karate. Masters with more than 30 years of training, both have traveled the world with Taika Oyata teaching. Registration begins at 9 a.m. Following the seminar, Stark and Gossett will…
Native plants like it here
Illinois, known as the “Prairie State,” has several native plant species. Prior to European settlers in Illinois, 60 percent of the 22 million acres was prairie. Today less than one hundredth of one percent of the original undisturbed prairies exists in Illinois. Some of these original prairies can still be found in pioneer cemeteries, fencerows…
ANNIE TAKES THE STAGE
We all remember the tales of Little Orphan Annie, whether it’s the cheery comic strip from the 1920s or the charming motion picture from the 1980s. Now, the story is being brought to life in Springfield with a stage performance by 100 kindergarten to eighth grade kids from Little Flower Catholic School and St. Aloysius…
Let the arts take you on a spiritual journey
Though war, poverty and tough economic times have some of us living in a state of despair, the journey to peace and solace can begin with Springfield’s biennial Liturgical Arts Festival. Held May 1 to May 4 at various locations throughout the city, the multi-faith interdenominational festival features a variety of programs designed to promote…
The Haymarket Festival, weighty and fun
What with all the wonderful weather how could anyone concentrate on entertainment and the like? The time has come for heading outdoors to hear live music. The first official outdoor music event (correct me if I’m wrong, and surely someone will) must be the Haymarket Festival at Douglas Park in the band shell on Saturday,…
Are genetically modified foods harmful?
Your favorite fruits and vegetables could be hazardous to your health, says Jeffrey Smith, executive director of the Institute for Responsible Technology. Smith, a leading spokesperson on the health dangers of genetically modified foods, brought his message to Springfield last weekend, as the keynote speaker for the Earth Day celebration. Smith also visited the Capitol…
Kids in prison
What do you do when you catch a criminal? Conventional wisdom says you lock them up and hope prison scares them straight. But what if that doesn’t work, and what if that criminal is only 13 years old? That’s what Illinois lawmakers thought they were providing four years ago when they established the Illinois Department…
A past with a future
Our yard is achingly beautiful in spring – especially the mostly wooded west side. Delicate blooms of spring beauties, Dutchman’s britches, and dog-toothed violets form a carpet of white. Here and there are drifts of daffodils, patches of bluebells, stands of May apples and wild yellow violets. The sugar maple flowers form an overhead canopy…
Shelley Miller
{image-8247} Please notice this is not until next Thursday, but something as good as this deserves a heads up. Shelley Miller is a fantastic singer and songwriter as well as an accomplished guitarist. She calls Chicago home, performing regularly at cool spots around the Windy City with shows done at the Old Town School of…
MILK MUSTACHES
Come get your very own milk mustache at the White Oaks Mall from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. on Monday, May 3. Join the national “Got Milk?” campaign for games, prizes and education as part of a free event to raise awareness about the benefits of milk and family dinner time. Families are invited to…
The Presidential museum turns five
Abe World opened five years ago this month, on April 19. Drawing on all the dark arts of electronic hucksterism, the new museum was to transform Springfield into a Mecca for patriots who would make their hajj by the millions in their Caravans and Odysseys. Has it? Has it returned a decent profit on the…
Back-Up needs a better plan
Alan Poul’s The Back-Up Plan, is the sort of movie that requires its characters to be idiots so that its inane plot can progress. It also counts on the fact that the audience is just as dim. It asks us to believe that a beauty like pet shop owner Zoe, who looks just like Jennifer…
Central Illinois group fights for bank accountability
Trenda Kennedy has seen the recession up close and personal. The Springfield resident lost her job when the economy tanked because her company closed its Illinois office, and she soon fell behind on her mortgage payments. When Kennedy approached her bank about refinancing her mortgage, however, she was basically put on hold. That was more…
Workers day
May 1 arrives with the second Haymarket Festival at Douglas Park. This annual music festival and celebration of the working man includes performances by: Sarah Schneider Band, Kerwin & Lang, Joe Frew & the 2 Live Crew and Gypsy Collabo. Speakers include radio personality Greg Bishop, retired union organizer Al Pieper, and UIS Professor Dr.…
I’m not getting my hopes up for early adjournment
The Illinois General Assembly usually tries to adjourn by the end of May. That hasn’t worked out too well the past few years as partisan bickering, the state’s huge budget problems and the bloody war between former Gov. Rod Blagojevich and House Speaker Michael Madigan forced months-long overtime sessions. The last time the legislature truly…
Letters to the Editor 4/29/10
HOW TO AVOID TAX I almost fell off my chair laughing when I read the letter from the smoker who challenges non-smokers to contribute to the cause (tobacco taxes) just as smokers do [“Letters,” April 22]. I took a moment to digest this diatribe until I realized this guy may just be having fun with…
