Cover Story
The secret to staying young
A banana every morning, along with a glass of milk, and some pickleball in the afternoon. For Donald Taft, at least, this is his recommended elixir to older people who want to keep drinking from the fountain of youth. At 93, the longtime Springfield restaurateur is believed to be the oldest active pickleball player in…
Letters to the editor
POORLY MANAGED I have been a certified arborist since the first year the certification law was passed decades ago. I have been actively volunteering since 1970 identifying and evaluating unique and old trees in Oak Ridge Cemetery and elsewhere in Illinois, starting with the Illinois Department of Natural Resources. I have put plaques and QR…
Unamended consequences
With luck, the $350 million renovation of the Illinois State Capitol north wing will open by the time the snow flies and Springfield will get a glimpse of the new main entrance to the Statehouse. Visitor screening, conference rooms and parking are now bunkered beneath the lawn on the Monroe Street side. Readers old enough to recall when the…
Love poem by my mother
As one who viewed the world by candlelight Seeing all objects dimly wrapped in shade, Their changing with a feeble flickering made By unexpected gusts of winds at night As if a veil were lifted from his sight Sees suddenly the mighty sun arrayed In blinding beauty; awed yet unafraid Goes forth to claim the…
Pickleball for all
Dale Diamond doesn’t need pickleball to stay busy. At 84, he still works five days a week as a parts and service driver at Isringhausen Imports and remains an accomplished bowler. Weekends, however, are reserved for the game he fell in love with several years ago. “Most of my contemporaries play pickleball every morning, but…
Exploring Southern Illinois
Join the Illinois State Historical Society’s southern Illinois tour Oct. 14-16 to visit historic sites, natural areas and the beautiful Shawnee National Forest with its bluffs, canyons, boulders and towering trees that will be alive with fall color. Board the bus in Springfield and travel to Shawneetown, Elizabethtown, Golconda and more. Experience the Ohio River,…
AgeLinc helps support seniors
Illinois’ and the nation’s aging population is rapidly increasing, with the proportion of individuals aged 65 and older rising significantly due to the aging of Baby Boomers. This shift presents both challenges and opportunities for various sectors, including healthcare and the economy, as well as for the population itself. Fortunately, service agencies provide much needed…
More than a meal
A hot meal delivery program for seniors is fulfilling volunteer Diane Bergeron’s passion for sharing with others because she’s had a blessed life. Senior Services of Central Illinois – which has non-medical, quality-of-life services for seniors age 50 and older in Sangamon, Logan, Mason and Menard counties – has two nutrition programs. The Daily Bread…
No lettuce, no problem
If you are finding yourself casting a wary eye toward bagged lettuce after the latest cyclospora health alert, consider looking to Greece for a lettuce-free salad alternative. The horiatiki salata, commonly known in America as a Greek salad, is a summer salad that requires no leafy greens whatsoever. It is a fresh, rustic salad made…
Music at the fair and elsewhere
Here we go into the last weekend of the Illinois State Fair for 2026 with plenty left to experience, especially in our appointed subject of live music. There’s so much being played on the grounds, no one can actually take it all in, which is a pretty darn good thing. Add in several in-town goings…
IT pick
CONVENTIONS | Comic book collectors gather this Sunday This long-running convention will return to Springfield on Sunday. A huge variety of new and old comic books will be for sale at the show as well as toys and related collectibles. Do you have comic books sitting around that are no longer wanted? This might be…
Safety net snaps
Kayla Brown said her family of four has been getting by on about $200 a month in Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program benefits since the sweeping changes made to the program’s eligibility and benefit calculations went into effect earlier this year. Before the change, she said her family received nearly $900 each month. “We’ve been getting…
Supporting students
Illinois school districts can now help pay for extended motel stays for homeless students and their families under a new state law that supporters say could provide stability for children in crisis – but state Sen. Steve McClure, R-Springfield, warns it lacks adequate safeguards. Gov. JB Pritzker signed House Bill 4137 into law July 24.…
Grandparents: The greatest influencers
I work hard at limiting the amount of time I spend watching reels and videos online. But I can’t control myself when I see videos of grandkids reaching and sobbing for their grandparents. You know the ones. It’s hard to know who is having the hardest time with the separation – the grandchildren or the…
