Quinn, GOP clash over ‘State of the State’
STATE | Diane Ivey Governor Pat Quinn emphasized his reform efforts during his “State of the State” address Wednesday, urging bipartisan cooperation as the General Assembly begins its 2010 session. Quinn, who addressed his audience via note cards, said his administration provided stability and positive change after his rise to power in January 2008. “I…
CHIMICHURRI SAUCE
4 c. loosely packed flat-leaf (Italian) parsley 2 T. coarsely chopped garlic, or more or less to taste 4 small scallions, chopped 1 medium carrot, coarsely grated 1/3 c. red or white wine vinegar, plus additional if desired 1 stalk celery, coarsely diced 1 jalapeno pepper, stemmed but not seeded, chopped, or substitute hot pepper…
SHELTER FROM THE STORM
The Springfield Overflow Shelter got a late Christmas present this week – a $15,000 donation from the United Way of Central Illinois to keep SOS open and fully-funded until the end of March. SOS provides overnight shelter to homeless individuals each winter at the former Methodist church on Fifth Street and Capitol Avenue. The Salvation…
Word crafting
Poet and hip-hop artist A.D. Carson leads a blended-media seminar titled “Making Lyrics Work on the Page and Making Poetry Work Out Loud” in Dawson Hall, Room 17. Community members ages 16 and older are invited to craft along under his lead. The University sponsors this event, hosted by Quiddity International Literary Journal and public…
High spirited hoops
They stand tall. They run fast. They dunk and dribble well. Don’t miss basketball at its finest and funniest. The Harlem Globetrotters, also dubbed the Magicians of Basketball, take the court at the Prairie Capital Convention Center this Sunday. An afternoon of fun is planned with the likes of Special K Daley and Scooter Christensen.…
Finding your way to fitness
Avoid the New Year’s resolution trap January, 2010…you’ve been handed a proverbial clean slate — another chance to shrug off your bad habits and reach for your dreams. It never fails to evoke feelings of hope and renewal, but is it really a trap? In an attempt to bottle that New Year’s vigor, you’ve probably…
Six things to do in 2010
In my travels, I’ve heard many cries of despair from you good folks about the timorous Obama presidency. It’s been go-slow and don’t-rock-the-corporate boat. “Where’s the ‘audacity of hope?’” people are asking. “Where’s the ‘change you can believe in?’” The answer is that in our country’s democracy, audacity and change are where they’ve always resided:…
Scared space
The folks down in Chatham are facing that dilemma so familiar to our migrant middle class families whose second homes consist of minivans or SUVs: As more and more young families with children move to the suburb looking for a safe place to raise their tax deductions, the streets become less and less safe for…
Becoming Elvis
The person, or perhaps more correctly, the personality of Elvis Presley permeates our entertainment culture from all directions. His influence spans generations and runs the gamut from the ridiculous to the sublime with more than a few stops in between. The man from Mississippi spawned a cultural revolution while alive. He still continues to attract…
Exhibition: Inspired photographs of poverty and hope in Africa
Seen through a camera lens is a world of extremes. Extreme poverty, disease and death. And then there’s the love, hope and courage it takes to remedy them. These are displayed through the images of Josh Hester — Springfield photographer and videographer. Hester’s work is on display at the Robert Morris Gallery, with an opening…
The worst films of 2009
When people find out I’m a film critic, the common response is, “Wow! That must be a fun job.” For the most part it is, but there are other times while sitting in the dark that it feels as if the will to live is being sucked from my body. Below is a list of…
A class way to cook away the winter blues
The holidays are over. It’s cold and dark and gloomy outside. Why not chase away those midwinter doldrums by taking a cooking class or two? A variety of cooking classes are being offered locally that should appeal to cooks of all levels, from total novices to experienced home chefs. The first months of the year…
Hunk of burning songs
Rick Dunham, aka Elvis Himselvis, and the Easy Street Band engage the audience in a birthday celebration for the king of rock and roll. Dunham has performed his tribute show in 31 states, Canada and Europe. He has been featured in the Chicago Tribune and USA Today and has been seen and heard on a…
Decatur genealogy museum traces African-American roots
Evelyn Hood of Decatur began researching her family history some years ago, realizing how hard it is for African-Americans because landowners usually did not include surnames of their slaves in their records. Surnames would tell people their tribes. That families were divided at auction provides another hindrance. “I was having a difficult time,” Hood says.…
Texting ban more bark than bite
A new state law that bans texting while driving took effect Jan. 1, but officials admit enforcement may be a problem. Signed by Governor Pat Quinn in August, the texting ban outlaws operating a motor vehicle “while using an electronic communication device to compose, send, or read an electronic message.” Mike Stout, director of the…
Brandon Carnes
Billed as an EP release-slash-going away party, the Brandon Carnes extravaganza this weekend is not your average concert. Son of local singer-musician Suzanne Carnes, the 20 year-old singer-songwriter is about to go itinerant and hit the mythical and mystical road by definitely “leaving Springfield indefinitely.” Harvest, the latest CD from this prolific young writer, contains…
Winter concert
The all-adult amateur orchestra performs under the direction of Richard A. Haglund, Conductor and Music Director for the Sangamon Valley Youth Symphony and the Community Orchestra. Though the show is free, donations will be accepted to benefit the group the evening of the performance. For more info visit their Web site at www.svys.org. Sangamon Valley…
Letters to the Editor 01/07/2010
PROTECTING ANIMALSKudos to Illinois for being ranked as the state with the strongest laws against cruelty to animals by the Animal Legal Defense Fund. Treating cruelty to animals seriously doesn’t only protect animals — it makes the entire community safer. Animal abusers are cowards who take their issues out on “easy victims” which often…
New polls look good for Jim Ryan
According to two recent polls taken by Rasmussen Reports and one by the Chicago Tribune, Gov. Pat Quinn has a detectable and significant problem with women voters, but a new development in the campaign might help the governor overcome this gender gap. Rasmussen recently matched Republican gubernatorial frontrunner Jim Ryan against Democrats Gov. Pat Quinn…
REVISITING THE RHOADS
Newlyweds Dyke and Karen Rhoads were stabbed to death on July 6, 1986, as they slept in their Paris, Ill., home. Police had no leads for months, until two individuals — both admitted alcoholics who had seven DUI convictions between them — stepped forward to finger locals Randy Steidl and Herbert Whitlock for the murders.…
Ball Charter’s waiting list, diversity grows
Hugh Drake once questioned the Springfield Ball Charter School’s unique teaching strategies, which include multi-age classrooms for kindergarten through eighth grade students and a learning scale that measures student progress without grades or report cards. Now, Drake advocates the school’s success, professionally as board president and personally as the father of two students (his son…
Firsthand report: Iran is Israel’s primary concern
Last month in Jerusalem, Tel Aviv, and the Palestinian city of Ramallah, I met with high-level Israeli, Palestinian and American officials to discuss regional issues, and a range of Israeli foreign policy and domestic matters. For a number of years, as a member of the leadership of the Jewish Council for Public Affairs, I have…
newyear’s evepoem #1
it’s new years eve it’sfrigid clear and there’sa blue moon I have seenblue moons before andexpect to see a numbermore but I will probablynot live long enough tosee another blue moonon a new year’s eve
