Planting seeds of what comes next
The Amazon burns, urged on by Brazil’s president Jair Bolsonaro, an elected official who is all-consuming, literally. I do not understand why we continue to elect Neros to positions of power, to lead us into destruction. How many times has our society been at this crossroads and chose to burn it down? Instead, we can…
Free Samuel Rosario
The most dramatic part of the trial came when the judge asked Samuel Rosario if he would testify. The former Springfield police officer stared into space for the better part of 30 seconds before saying that he would not. From a legal perspective, it was the right call, but Rosario looked like a man…
Madigan deals with fallout from Mapes
You don’t have to read past the first sentence of Tim Mapes’ statement last week to see one of the core problems with the way he ran the Illinois House Democratic operation. Mapes was responding to an investigative report commissioned by House Speaker Michael Madigan to get to the bottom of allegations of sexual harassment…
Letters to the Editor 8/29/19
MEMPHIS MAKES FOR MEANINGFUL CONVERSATIONS It isn’t often that artists are able to use their platform to introduce conversations. Our goal, as staff members of Memphis: The Musical, was to not only tell stories of dignity for black people, but to also provide a story that could resonate with others and lead to enlightening conversation.…
Editor’s note 8/29/19
The Sangamon County Citizens Survey, released last week and available online, showed that 93% of respondents have health care insurance coverage and 89% have a primary care doctor. Yet despite having doctors and insurance, a lot of residents just don’t feel good. Some 39% said that in the last month there was at least one…
Oysters and Craft Beers
The Inn at 835 is hosting the 10th annual Springfield Oyster and Beer Festival (SOB Festival), presented by Marine Bank. The festival features over 40 different craft beers brands from across the Midwest, over 5,000 gourmet oysters and local food trucks. The Lovdahls and Fireside Relics will be on stage providing live entertainment. All of…
There is such a thing as a free ride
W.E. Sullivan, owner of a bridge construction company in Roodhouse, visited the 1893 Columbian Exposition in Chicago, where he marveled at the original Ferris wheel designed by George W. G. Ferris, who also owned a bridge company. Sullivan was determined to build a wheel of his own and debuted his first, Big Eli, in Jacksonville’s…
Miles to go
Shayna Texter once dreamed of playing pro soccer, but she can’t escape the thrill of speed that is in her blood. In 2012, she made history in Tennessee by becoming the first woman to win a Grand National Championship race. Sanctioned by the American Motorcycle Association, such races are considered the sport’s top echelon. At…
Preserving the reputations of sexual harassers
An administrator resigned amid sexual harassment accusations. Another college hired him. A professor was found to have stalked a coworker. She agreed to retire, then won a Fulbright grant. Campus leaders vow reforms, but many say it’s a long road. This article was produced in partnership with the ProPublica Local Reporting Network.ProPublica Illinois is an…
Decatur’s Devon Amphitheater
If you think there’s nothing to do in Decatur, I assume you’ve yet to visit The Devon Lakeshore Amphitheater. Tucked away within the winding hills and plateaus that make up Nelson Park on the city’s east side is brand new music venue that has reeled in thousands of attendees and a variety of performers during…
The joyful journey
A number of years ago there was a craze for bracelets with the initials “WWJD” which stands for “What would Jesus do?” Surely this is a worthy question, but the sheer number of those bracelets sold and worn all but ensured that somewhere along the line, some wearer of one of these bracelets might have…
Memphis is a revelation
When the musical Memphis opened on Broadway in 2009 it was certainly successful, winning four Tony Awards including Best Musical. Critical response, however, was mixed, with the book by Joe DiPietro (of All Shook Up, seen this summer at Theatre in the Park) and music by Bon Jovi founding member David Bryan both singled out…
Firearms dealers to need a state license
Following through on a new law that Gov. J.B. Pritzker signed in January, the Illinois State Police published a set of proposed new regulations requiring gun dealers in Illinois to comply with stricter security and recordkeeping requirements. That law, however, is being challenged in Sangamon County Circuit Court by the Illinois State Rifle Association and…
New head over the dead
Springfield Mayor Jim Langfelder has tapped Lashonda Fitch to become the new executive director of Oak Ridge Cemetery after current executive director Michael Lelys retires in October. Fitch, a real estate agent who also is employed as a small business counselor by Justine Petersen, a St. Louis-based entity that helps set up loans to help…
Thriving or just surviving?
Concern surrounding the population decrease in the area was a focal point at a recent Citizens Club of Springfield panel discussion on the results of the 2019 Sangamon County Citizens Survey. Respondents were almost evenly split on whether things are generally headed in the right direction for Sangamon County (52%) or on the wrong track…
Falcon a timely tale of compassion
Films such as The Peanut Butter Falcon are tricky when it comes to setting the proper tone and treating its subject and story with respect. Centered on a young man with Down syndrome, works of this sort run the risk of being too cute and using characters as punch lines or becoming so melodramatic that…
Music labors
Welcome to an early bird Labor Day weekend for 2019. Since the first Monday in September is actually the second day of the month this year, the whole shebang is one day away from the earliest possible date it could be. This weekend is officially the end of the summer season by most accounts, and…
Doc Hollow
The original “Hollow” band around town, these guys started up in 2001 and played around the area for several years. Now about a decade after disbanding, fast friends and fellow musicians Antone DeRocchi, Mark LeVault and Tom Beverly are back for a Doc Hollow encore experience. They played their first together-again gig in early July…
Celebrate eggplant season
Eggplant is in peak season right now, and will continue to grace the tables at farmers markets until frost. Also know as aubergine, eggplant is low in calories, nutrient-rich, and loaded with fiber and antioxidants. This versatile fruit is widely consumed throughout Asia and the Middle East and comes in a range of colors and…
ecp-poem #31
we were warned some forty years ago much of this planet realizes we are dooming ourselves is taking steps a date has even been set for when life-as-we-are-accustomed will cease we will all be eco-immigrants with no place to go – here in Vermont I’ve been keeping a wary scary eye invasives are clogging our…
