Caught in a tiff
Both men say they weren’t motivated by politics. But does anyone believe them? The latest manifestation of the conflict between Springfield Mayor Jim Langfelder and Capital Township Supervisor Joe Aiello came to a head in the final moments of the legislative veto session last week. Lawmakers approved a measure, which now goes to Gov. JB…
Best of Springfield® Reader’s Poll 2021
Every year, we ask our opinionated readers to tell us about their favorite people, places and things in the Springfield area. Over the decades we’ve been doing this, we’ve continued to tweak both the process and the results issue to try to keep things fresh and interesting, and of course, the votes tend to reflect…
LAWYER
Those who know him best might say that Gregory Sgro puts the “Greg” in gregarious. The longtime Springfield attorney is known for his social nature, humor and wit. He’s also exceedingly trustworthy, says Donald Hanrahan, who works with Sgro at the law firm of Sgro, Hanrahan, Durr, Rabin and Bruce, LLP. “He’s honest and he’s…
WINNER AND FINALISTS: CIVIC & COMMUNITY
Nonprofit Animal Protective League 1001 Taintor Road, 544-7387 Finalists: Phoenix Center, Wooden It Be Lovely, Community Child Care Connection, Helping the Homeless Nonprofit assisting during the pandemic Springfield Families Helping Families Facebook page Finalists: Helping Hands of Springfield, Helping the Homeless in Springfield, IL, HSHS St. John’s Hospital, Community Child Care Connection Place to volunteer…
CLERGYPERSON
Jeff Grant is just an Illinois farm boy who finds himself shepherding a different kind of flock. The pastor of Blessed Sacrament Catholic Church is known for his stirring homilies and pastoral demeanor. But mostly he’s known for his gentleness. “Every day when Blessed Sacrament school lets out, he stands at the door and waves…
MOTORCYCLE DEALER
If you ride a motorcycle, you ride for a reason. If you ride a Harley-Davidson, you ride with a passion, a purpose and a dedication to a community. Since 1962, the love of cycles has grown from a Schwinn bicycle and motorcycle shop into what is now Hall’s Harley-Davidson. The locally owned store is a…
WINNER AND FINALISTS: CANNABIS
BargainsAscend 628 E. Adams St., 679-3283 3201 Horizon Drive, 718-6355 Finalists: Maribis, CBD Botanicals, Simply CBD, Prairie State Hemp Biggest selectionAscend 628 E. Adams St., 679-3283 3201 Horizon Drive, 718-6355 Finalists: CBD Botanicals, Maribis, Simply CBD, Prairie State Hemp BudtenderCasey Cook – Ascend Horizon Drive 3201 Horizon Drive, 718-6355 Finalists: Brittany Jacobs – Maribis (Grandview),…
NEW BAR (OPENED AFTER 8/1/20)
The verdict is in, and folks decided the best new bar is more than just a bar. The business, located in a cool old building on the west side of the square in Petersburg, features a boutique with clothes, gifts and assorted goodies downstairs, plus wine, entertainment and a stylish space upstairs. Started by two…
MOVING COMPANY
In the 1980s when brothers Brig Sorber and Jon Sorber needed to make some money after school, they asked their mom, Mary Ellen Sheets, to create a logo – two stick people in a truck – and to put an ad in the local Lansing, Michigan, weekly newspaper. The brothers used an old truck to…
WINNER AND FINALISTS: DRINK AND FOOD
Bartender Darcy at Obed and Isaac’s Microbrewery & Eatery 500 S. Sixth St., 670-0627 Finalists: Pat McPartland at WLD and Clique, Seth Propst – Springfield Beer Company, Lori Phillips – Chesapeake Seafood House, Ruthy Lovelette – The Winner’s Circle Specialty cocktail Casa Real Margarita Flight at Casa Real 3100 W. White Oaks Drive, 303-5323 Finalists:…
CHINESE
Springfield loves its Asian foods, and this year our readers have decided that Little Saigon tops the charts in this category. While it was recognized in the category for best Chinese food, Little Saigon serves up primarily Thai and Vietnamese cuisine in an atmosphere that gives a nod to its Southeast Asian heritage. We think…
STORAGE FACILITY
Harvey Horton spent a few years carefully researching the storage industry and coming up with a detailed business plan. He opened Stuff-It Storage in March 2020, and immediately went into adaptation mode as the COVID-19 pandemic altered our world significantly. “You adapt and overcome,” says Horton, with the pandemic changing the way he expected his…
WINNER AND FINALISTS: ARTS, CULTURE AND MUSIC
Arts, Culture & Entertainment Abraham Lincoln historic site Lincoln’s New Salem State Historic Site 15588 History Lane, Petersburg, 632-4000 Finalists: Lincoln Home National Historic Site, The Lincoln Tomb, Old State Capitol Tourist spot in Springfield not related to Abraham Lincoln Dana-Thomas House 301 E. Lawrence Ave., 782-6776 Finalists: Cozy Dog Drive In, Illinois State Fair,…
CHEF AND FARM-TO-TABLE RESTAURANT
Aurora Coffey was much of the visionary genius behind the former American Harvest Eatery, as she is now for Luminary Kitchen & Provisions in Springfield. “She really is the driving creative and organizational force behind the business,” says Jordan Coffey, her husband and business partner. The two met in a kitchen, working for August Mrozowski…
NEW BUSINESS NOT DOWNTOWN (OPENED AFTER 8/1/20)
With a laser-focused confectionery niche and a top-notch pun name, Nothing Bundt Cakes is the result of married co-owners Kristen and Theo Spilman’s combined 40 years of culinary and hospitality experience. “I feel like the community has received us quite well, and we fill a gap in the sense that you can get a cake…
WINNER AND FINALISTS: GOODS AND SERVICES
Accountant Eck, Schafer & Punke, LLP 227 S. Seventh St., 525-1111 Finalists: KEB, Troy A. Washko CPA, David Humke, Rotherham & Rotherham & Company Bank United Community Bank 3055 Professional Drive, 529-3000 1301 S. Koke Mill Road, 787-3000 3300 Robbins Road, 787-3000 5250 Shepherd Road, 483-2491 1900 W. Iles Ave., 787-3000 700 Stevenson Drive. 529-3000…
CHILI
Springfield is a chili town – there’s no doubt about it. There are even fights over whether it’s spelled with one or two “l”s. And Springfield’s favorite kind of chili is tavern chili, with the Chili Parlor bringing home the win this year. It’s a Springfield institution that’s been around for more than 50 years,…
WINE STORE
Plenty of stores can sell you a great bottle of wine, but only a handful do it with the type of dedication that you’ll find at The Corkscrew. Whether you are new to the world of wine or a self-proclaimed sommelier, The Corkscrew has a broad variety of spirits, making the chances of finding the…
WINNER AND FINALISTS: HEALTH & WELLNESS
Nurse Megan Kane – HSHS St. John’s Hospital Finalists: Libby Lewis Tolley – HSHS St. John’s Hospital, Elizabeth Yarnell – Springfield Memorial Hospital, Mary Ely – HSHS Medical Group Family Medicine Rochester, Jessica Akers Lee – Springfield Clinic Doctor Dr. Erin Stone – Springfield Clinic Finalists: Dr. Cara Vasconcelles – Memorial Care – Koke Mill,…
FINE DINING
VELE definitely comes to mind when thinking about fine dining in Springfield, which is why our readers voted it as the city’s best fine dining establishment. VELE’s décor creates an upscale ambiance that pairs well with its carefully crafted menu. The menu is about modern coastal Italian food with a focus on small plates meant…
DIETITIAN
Before becoming a dietician, Erin Zepp had 110 pounds of inspiration. “When I was in high school, my mom lost 110 pounds, and so that put our whole family on a healthy living trajectory that I always participated in and thought was really neat and cool,” she said. “But back then, I didn’t understand that…
WINNER AND FINALISTS: KIDS STUFF
Children’s support organizationMini O’Beirne Crisis Nursery 1011 N. Seventh St., 525-6800 Finalists: Compass for Kids, Children’s Miracle Network, Girl Scouts of Central Illinois, Girls on the Run of Central Illinois Pediatrics centerHSHS St. John’s Children’s Hospital 415 N. Ninth St., 757-6394 Finalists: Memorial Care – Koke Mill, Springfield Clinic Pediatric and Adolescent Center, SIU Center…
FOOD TRUCK
For a lot of places, a taco is a side dish or a supporting player, something to be added on to a larger meal. In addition to its burritos, quesadillas and other creations, The Taco Joint treats its tacos like the main event, based on the level of attention to detail. It has the vibe…
RETAIL SHOP
Jessica Lance opened Bewitching Botanicals in Auburn right before the pandemic took hold. She had started selling her wares at vendor fairs a couple of months before she opened up the brick-and-mortar location in mid-December of 2019. “After such a tumultuous time the past two years, going through a global pandemic together, we’re trying to…
WINNERS AND FINALISTS: HOME AND GARDEN
AC/heating companyHenson Robinson Co. 3550 Great Northern Ave., 544-8451 Finalists: Rich Gatschenberger Heating & Cooling; Mike Williams Plumbing, Heating & Air Conditioning; Tiger Plumbing, Heating, Air Conditioning Services & Electric Services; Klughart Mechanical & General Contractors Air duct cleaningDuct Dusters LLC 553-0272 Finalists: Peerless Cleaners, Nyilas Cleaning Service, Tiger Plumbing, Heating, Air Conditioning Services &…
PRIVATE SCHOOL
At a time when many private and religious schools are struggling, Little Flower Catholic School is growing. So, what is their secret? “We have a great pastor in Al (Kemme.) He’s in is his sixth year and he has done a great job at just setting the tone,” principal Bill Moredock said. “And the faculty…
NEW BUSINESS DOWNTOWN (OPENED AFTER 8/1/20)
Whimsy Tea began out of frustration. Owner Gordon Davis explained that one of his family’s regular outings was to Teavana, formerly housed in White Oaks Mall. Then the company was purchased by Starbucks, which closed the local outlet, despite initial promises to the contrary. After the disappointment, Davis and his family decided not to let…
LOCAL LIVING AUTHOR
Shatriya Smith wants to be the capital city’s first poet laureate – an honor that doesn’t, but should, exist – and should first be bestowed on Smith, partially for her being creative and visionary enough for the idea in the first place. In addition to her writing, Smith is a fierce community organizer who likely…
INDIAN
Springfield has a surprising amount of ethnic food options, and that’s a great thing. For Indian food, the vote is in – head on over to Gateway to India. While it might be short on ambiance – who cares, you go there for the food. Any place that serves such delicious piping hot and fresh…
Redistricting fight was inevitable
It has been a foregone conclusion since the official US Census numbers were released in August that the first state legislative redistricting plan passed back in May would be ruled unconstitutional. And the inevitable happened last week when a federal court tossed out the General Assembly’s spring plan. The official population data showed that…
Serious allegations
Days after a man was arrested by Illinois State Police on charges of sexually abusing their 14-year-old daughter, her parents allege Springfield officers shielded the man because his mother is a detective with the police department. Illinois State Police arrested Zane Merreighn, the 22-year-old son of Detective Jennifer Oglesby, on three counts of aggravated sexual…
ORIGINAL MUSIC BAND
2021 became a turning point for these six cool cats from Rochester, and they’ve got their act together in becoming solidly what they say they are on the group’s Facebook page – a “high energy rock-n-roll band.” Bandmates and best pals, Matthew Runions (drums), Ty Ellis (bass), Cooper Marx (guitar), Logan McKneelen (guitar), Dave Allen (vocals) and Lucas…
VOCALIST MALE
A true sign the hip hop, rap and pop movement in central Illinois is not only alive and well, but finally getting the attention it deserves, Kid Ziggy (otherwise known as Zachary T. Geller) claimed honors as our best male vocalist this year. Now approaching 6,000 monthly listeners on Spotify for several singles and plays…
MARTIAL ARTS STUDIO (ADULT AND KIDS)
Empowering children and adults to reach their full potential through quality martial arts has been the main mission of John Geyston’s Martial Arts Academy since 1982. The studio offers programs in mixed martial arts, Muay Thai kickboxing, Brazilian jiu jitsu, fitness kickboxing, karate and self-defense classes for children, teens and adults. John Geyston, owner and…
In surprising twist, Republicans support employer lawsuits
The current topsy-turvy political landscape was on full display in the Illinois House and the Senate last week as the chamber debated and passed a bill to slightly narrow the scope of the Illinois Health Care Right of Conscience Act. A bedrock Republican Party principle over the years has been to help shield employers from…
NEW RESTAURANT (OPENED AFTER 8/1/20)
Mission BBQ is new to the Springfield scene, but it is certainly no stranger to serving up top-notch barbecue and all the fixings. Mission BBQ is a chain that was formed about 10 years ago by two friends who believed there is “nothing more American than BBQ. And nobody more American than the brave men…
CAR DETAILING
Owner Trevor Miller was previously a barber for 17 years. With a history of entrepreneurship in the family, Miller decided to open his own business in 2013. It was a blend of his interests – cutting hair and detailing automobiles. Both sides of his business were successful, but as his employed barbers began to branch…
Love is love, no matter what
Audiences are returning to live theater at a time of uncertainty and discord. Stop Kiss, Diana Son’s dark romantic comedy (and near-tragedy) speaks directly to the fears, anger and longing in our hearts. This fine UIS production under the capable direction of Missy Thibodeaux-Thompson – with a cast of exceptional actors from the theater program…
LOCAL PODCAST
Long a staple on the Springfield-area radio scene, Ray Lytle moved into the internet radio world more than five years ago and brought his popular Morning Disaster program along for the wild ride. Basically, the podcast our readers voted to be the best is a variation of the irreverent talk show that Ray “the Master…
SONGWRITER
Known for her spectacular singing voice that landed her a spot on the national TV show, “The Voice,” Gracia Harrison is now firmly entrenched into the world of country-pop songwriting as well. After garnering a great deal of attention from “The Voice” appearance, (she was the first, and only person to date who yodeled her…
ANTIQUE OR VINTAGE STORE
What’s old is new again, and you can find the best of both of these worlds (and so much more) at Dear Yesteryear, a vintage and furniture store located in Taylorville. Owners Lee and Dyanne Skinner have poured their hearts and souls into curating the very best shopping experience, and after taking one step inside…
COSMETIC SURGEON
For over 25 years, Dr. Nicole Sommer has been performing surgeries that make patients’ lives better. Sommer is a cosmetic, plastic and reconstructive surgery specialist at Southern Illinois University (SIU) Cosmetic Clinic located in the Institute for Plastic Surgery. She is also affiliated with HSHS St. John’s Hospital, Springfield Memorial Hospital and Decatur Memorial Hospital.…
VIRTUAL/ONLINE THEATER PERFORMANCE – FEMALE LEAD
Within the strange, pandemic world of 2020, theater shows were not able to be safely presented and venues struggled to come up with ways to produce performances for audiences. At the Hoogland Center for the Arts, videotaped performances were made available online and Songs for a New World by Jason Robert Brown aired in October…
FOOD SERVER
In this crazy new world we’re living in, we’ve all heard stories about how hard it is to find staff that will show up, let alone good staff who are invested in their jobs and who care about their customers. So when our readers vote someone as Springfield’s best server, that really means something. This…
EVENT PLANNER
“What Springfield really needs is a good party!” Audrey Kondelis’ exuberance and excitement is evident upon meeting her. She is full of ideas to make parties as vibrant and fun as possible. “Pole Barn Chic is a one-stop shop,” notes Kondelis, who can take care of all party details with her in-house staff, including flowers,…
WINNERS AND FINALIST: RETAIL
RETAIL Pet retail store Wild Birds Unlimited 1930 S. MacArthur Blvd., 789-6468 Finalists: PetSmart, Pet Supplies Plus, Tails To Remember Pet Services, Farm and Home Supply Clothing store – men Jim Herron Ltd. 2935 Plaza Drive, 753-8036 Finalists: SCHEELS, Men’s Wearhouse, Reverie Apparel, H&M Clothing store – used Clothes Mentor 2329 W. Monroe, 698-8485 Finalists:…
VIRTUAL/ONLINE THEATER PERFORMANCE – MALE LEAD
The name Ken Bradbury is synonymous with local, original theater. This script by the late Jacksonville-based playwright introduced us to people who lived in the area during Lincoln’s lifetime to express how the spirit of the Great Emancipator, beyond the scope of his political and presidential experience, touched their lives. The portrayals, done in Ken’s…
VOCALIST FEMALE
Ashley Staley, half of the popular music duo JackAsh (guitarist and singer Jack Stege is the other member), is the best female singer in town according to our intrepid readers. She takes her singing seriously and has for a long time. Influenced by the band Heart when starting out, she now respects and listens to…
AUTO SALESPERSON
Robert’s Automotive is a family affair. Brian Wilbern works alongside his brothers, Rob and Mike, as well as his father, Bob, whose formal moniker begets the name of the business. Originally from Petersburg, but now living in Springfield, Brian began working at the dealership about 12 years ago. He attributes his success with customers to…
Antlers an effective chiller, Dopesick chronicles tragedy, Champion is cliched
Haunting subtext sharpens Antlers With such intimate, personal dramas like Crazy Heart and Out of the Furnace on his resume, a horror film would seem like an odd choice for director Scott Cooper. But there’s more than meets the eye in his latest feature, Antlers, an effective chiller that gets a great deal of mileage…
Living for two
Always assume the gun is loaded. Those words were bored into my brain by my father and older brother when I was only 8 or 9 years old and learning how to handle firearms on the farm. One time, we were leaving the field and my brother ordered me to unload my rifle. I popped…
FLOWER SHOP
Fifth Street Flower Shop has been around for a while – since 1931, to be exact, when Truman Cole purchased Cole Flower Shop from his father and renamed it Fifth Street Flower Shop. Though its location moved several times throughout the decades, it moved back to Fifth Street and into its current location at 739…
Repeal of Parental Notice of Abortion will head to Pritzker
The Illinois House late Wednesday gave final passage to a bill that repeals the state’s Parental Notice of Abortion Act, clearing the way for Gov. JB Pritzker to sign it into law. The bill narrowly passed out of the Senate on Tuesday night on a 32-22 vote, with three Democrats voting no and six Democrats…
DISPENSARY, BIGGEST SELECTION, BARGAINS, BUDTENDERS – CASEY COOK
With cannabis now legalized in Illinois for adult use, Springfield residents have a number of dispensaries to choose from. Ascend’s Horizon Drive location has stood out from others for Illinois Times voters in a market that’s both very new and already robust. “We are very invested in Springfield’s community of patients and consumers, and we’re…
