The spice of lives
The Cajuns bid “adieu,” the Celts spoke “slan,” the Germans said “auf wiedersehen.” One by one, the groups that had made Springfield’s Ethnic Festival a success said goodbye. Now organizers are left with just three groups, looking for ways to rejuvenate a Labor Day tradition. The popular festival, featuring food and music from around the…
Now Playing 8-28-03
Where did the summer go? Hopefully in fun-filled batches of joy and frolic with a wee bit of havoc and distress tossed in to balance out the bliss. But face up to facts, folks, the summer of 2003 is almost gone: Labor Day is here. This weekend there are several exciting and tantalizing shows to…
Missing the mark
Eight markers in central Springfield were set out to tell the story of the 1908 race riots. The markers were put in place in 1994 by the Historical Events Memorial Committee under then-mayor Ossie Langfelder. On August 14 and 15, 1908, two blacks, Scott Burton and William Donnegan, were killed by a white mob. Governor…
Knoepfle 8-28-03
scott joplin he had these quarter notes look easy play hard new rags he did these in 1912 lots of glides afro american rag before anyone in the world had to think about this chrysanthemum gold flowering gold pebbled beaches of africa jewel box of twinkling notes controlled as a bird cage these songs without…
Did the governor tee-off on a 14-year-old girl?
One of the most peculiar stories to come out of the Illinois State Fair concerned an animal-doping controversy. The story was actually about a costly mistake by the parents of a 4-H Club member, but it quickly turned into some bad publicity for Rod Blagojevich. Representative Shane Cultra (R-Onarga) even demanded an apology from the…
A neat trade
For the last 12 years, Mike Chase has been cleaning the windows of the Great Western Railroad Depot, where Abraham Lincoln, Mary Todd, and their children bid farewell to Springfield before heading to Washington, D.C. Chase, owner of Rayvon Window Cleaning in New Berlin, also cleans the windows of the Old State Capitol. “These windows…
The fall of public housing
Late in the afternoon of May 27, James Wilson was sitting on a bench outside the Major Robert A. Byrd high-rise on 13th Street. The public-housing complex had been Wilson’s home for five years, but then a large brick section of the southern façade suddenly crumbled. “Just like that–boom!” Wilson says. “There was noise and…
The long road home
When Roosevelt Sam Smith became the pastor of New Salem United Methodist Church in New Berlin two years ago, he considered it a homecoming of sorts. The 47-year-old Smith was born in Liberia’s capital, Monrovia. But back in 1883 his great-grandparents had moved to the African nation from Jefferson County, Tennessee. Settled in the early…
Movie Reviews
My Boss’s Daughter Tick . . . tick . . . tick . . . That’s the sound of Ashton Kutcher’s 15 minutes of fame quickly (and mercifully) reaching an end. With two hit television series (including the MTV reality show Punk’d), a high-profile romance with 40-something Demi Moore, and the threat of more important…
Turf time
Tip of the week Lawn mower blades should be sharpened at least two times a year, April 1 and September 1. A sharp blade will make a clean cut, decreasing stress on the plants. If you use your mower to mulch leaves, sharpen the blade again in late October. Some gardeners sharpen their blades after…
The highway side
FIFTEEN I went back the way I’d come, over the highway, and then pulled into the truck stop. There was a restaurant inside and a “travel store.” But the place was quieter than I’d expected at that time of night. It was a bit past 11. I found an empty game room along a hallway…
Mystery Man
Mention the name Joe Wilkins to a dozen different people and you get a variety of responses. Some know him as the charismatic and beloved college professor who has been a guest lecturer at some of the most prestigious universities in the world. Others know him as a valued asset to any Democratic campaign. Most…
Your Turn . . . 8-28-03
Home sweet homely Dear editor: I can help answer the question, “Whatever happened to Scenic Springfield?” [August 21] The article covered a number of events that can help explain it. I wish to add to the list. The first is an expansion of the trash issue. Even though the city replaced trashcans downtown with recycle/trash…
