Cover Story
Tourism is up, but downtown is hurting
From his view on East Adams Street, Prairie Archives owner Robb Paul has witnessed firsthand how downtown Springfield has evolved. His secondhand bookstore at 522 E. Adams St. has been in the same spot since 1992, straight across from the Old State Capitol and just a couple doors down from Abraham Lincoln’s old law office. …
Letters to the editor
GOOD PLAY, BAD JOKE I saw the 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee musical put on at the Hoogland Center for the Arts. I thought it was mostly terrific and that the cast did an excellent job. I had a good time watching it. I did, however, not love one joke made in reference to…
Symphony
When I was small my mom would lie on the couch on Sunday afternoon with a cloth over her eyes and listen to the symphony on the radio. This made me uneasy: mothers shouldn’t lie down with their eyes closed. The domestic ship might run aground with no one at the tiller and who, who…
A case for data center growth
This month’s CyrusOne zoning petition vote was not partisan, and the Democrats on the Sangamon County Board split evenly on this vote. The Board had to decide if a proposal meeting zoning standards should advance while demanding strong building-code enforcement, transparency and accountability. Data centers are part of the infrastructure of modern life. Our phones,…
Classic French toast
Brunch season is upon us! Whether you’re in the mood for laid back and lazy or showstopping and decadent – classic French toast is a deliciously reliable dish that seldom fails to please. Its first recorded history dates back to a fourth century cookbook from the Roman Empire, though it’s likely that versions of this…
April ending music
As we wind up our last weekend in April for live music adventures, the weather looks good as outdoor events are on the rise. I also see several concerts happening of varying genres, plus a slew of regulars playing up a storm along with a variety of styles at various venues as the Springfield scene…
Voices of America
Voices of America Festival “I, Too, Sing America” | Fri., April 24, 7:30-10:30 p.m. Foundation Hall, Old State Capitol Voices of America Festival “This Land is Your Land” | Sat., April 25, 7:30-9:30 p.m. | First Presbyterian Church, 321 S. Seventh St. springfieldchoralsociety.org. Celebrate America’s 250th birthday with the Springfield Choral Society this weekend as…
Tackling chronic absenteeism
A new joint initiative between the Sangamon County State’s Attorney’s Office and the Regional Office of Education is taking a tougher, more coordinated approach to chronic truancy. It combines social services with a stark warning: get children back in school or face legal consequences. The effort, spearheaded by Sangamon County State’s Attorney John Milhiser and Regional Superintendent Shannon…
Invest in residents first
Downtown Springfield is the heart of our city, but more importantly, it is a neighborhood. It belongs first to the people who live here, work here, study here, worship here and return here again and again because it feels like theirs. Tourism is a vital piece of downtown’s economy, and we’re glad to welcome visitors.…
