Springfield’s Ladies Aid supported Civil War soldiers
On July 4, 1837 – 175 years ago – the cornerstone for what we now call the Old State Capitol (OSC) was dedicated. In the decades that followed, the building was not only the center of governmental activities, it was a town center, where people gathered for social, civic and charitable activities. As part of…
Supreme Court vs. The People in Montana
“Two wrongs don’t make a right,” as my old Texas momma used to instruct my brothers and me. But apparently, five of the justices on our Supreme Court didn’t have mommas with such ethical sensibilities – or perhaps they’re just ignoring their mommas’ wisdom now in order to impose their extremist political agenda on you…
Wrap it up
Wraps – usually utilizing a flour tortilla or equivalent that encompasses some sort of sandwich or burrito-esque filling – are ubiquitous throughout America today. But lighter, even elegant, wraps have been around for centuries in Asia – especially Southeast Asia – that act as a vehicle for getting the food into your mouth: Lettuces, either…
The twenty acre wood
Few of our readers know the words and music to “Woodman, Spare that Tree,” a mawkish ballad that was a hit in the 1830s. Instead they are singing the blues about the destruction of Griffin Woods. The Springfield City Council recently decided that those 20 acres of trees at Washington and North Bruns Lane may…
While initially engaging, Ted’s act wears thin
Seth MacFarlane’s humor is not for everyone. I have to admit that I need to be in the mood to appreciate his crude take on things, though I do love the tangential structure of Family Guy that allows him to comment on anything and everything. So I was more than a bit hesitant in approaching…
Panhandling defended
Don Norton of Springfield has been homeless before, and he expects to be so again. Norton and his partner, Karen Denene Otterson, live with a friend who is planning to get married, meaning their welcome will wear out soon. “Unless I can find substantial support to get into another home or an apartment, I may…
Sex offender gets 60 days
Sangamon County Circuit Court Judge John Schmidt called a tough one last week. Before him stood Robert A. Nika, a former Southeast High School teacher who committed an awful crime and had already gotten a big break from the Sangamon County state’s attorney’s office. Nika, 27, had sex with a student as many as 10…
Gambling could pay for road repairs
Springfield could raise money for infrastructure improvements from video gambling if the city council approves a measure introduced last week. Springfield mayor Michael Houston introduced a proposal to allow video gambling in Springfield, incorporating a 2009 state law that legalizes video gambling terminals in bars, hotels, banquet halls and other facilities. The state law and…
Thai cucumber salad
• 2 T. fresh lime juice• 1 T. fish sauce• 1/4 c. light brown sugar• 4 thinly sliced fresh Thai hot chiles OR Serrano chiles, or to taste, optional• 1-2 “burpless” cucumbers, unpeeled• 2 T. minced shallots• 2 T. chopped fresh cilantro• 1 T. chopped fresh mint• 2 T. chopped unsalted dry roasted peanuts, optional…
Dew drop your pants
I broke up with my guy a while ago, which was the right thing to do. But, I’ve found myself hooking up with guys for no reason other than getting caught in a provocative moment. Of course, as you’ve often written, men and women are very different when it comes to casual sex, and what’s…
downtownpoem #5
while on a roll of downtown dramaconsider the then newish bank at 5th & washington in the good ol’ days of ssuI was co-teaching with marian levinwriting and movement our class of tenwomen met anywhere we moved studiedmovement then wrote about it today atthe bank gripping our assignment weignored each other attract no attentionone item…
Showing resolve
Roxy Theatricals presents nine performances of the Legally Blonde – The Musical. Based on the popular movie with Reese Witherspoon, college sweetheart and homecoming queen Elle Woods, played by Springfield’s Katie Ford, doesn’t take no for an answer. So when her boyfriend dumps her for someone serious, Elle puts down the shopping bags, hits the…
Fish and tips
The Land of Lincoln Water Gardening Society presents Parade of Ponds Saturday, July 14, from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Enjoy a self-guided tour of eight Springfield-area ponds and gardens. Homeowners will be on site to answer questions about installation and maintenance of the ponds. This is the excursion for you if you’ve ever thought…
Prairie State Heartache makes a break
As the old saying goes, “You never know until you try,” and how true it is. Prairie State Heartache, a Springfield rock band, just took the plunge, as they soon make the move to Savannah, Ga., with a new record in the can and eyes on the road. The band, featuring Jonathan Cour, Granville (Ben)…
Drift bouyed by new characters
Inexplicably, the cartoon crew from the Ice Age films has avoided extinction and proven as resilient as a cockroach, that is, as long as they continue to bring in big bucks for 20th Century-Fox. That seems assured as the fourth entry of the series, subtitled Continental Drift, floats into theaters with a pair of new…
Lithuanians in Springfield
The placing of a church cornerstone is an act of faith. For the founders of Springfield’s St. Vincent de Paul Lithuanian Catholic Church it was an act of survival. Exiled from their tiny homeland on the Baltic Sea, they came to America at the turn of the last century seeking peace, opportunity and religious freedom…
People struggles to find its footing
There’s an earnestness to Alex Kurtzman’s People Like Us that’s admirable. You can tell the cast is doing its best to give life to the writer/director’s words and is trying to make the premise they’ve been saddled with as believable as possible. Kurtzman himself, in his directorial debut, pulls out all the stops, getting the…
Pork or Chicken Satés
• 1 lb. boneless, skinless chicken or pork loin For the marinade• 1 tsp. coriander seeds• 1 tsp. cumin seeds• 1 T. fish sauce (Preferably the Vietnamese Three Crab Brand; it’s easily identifiable by the three crabs on the label, available in some groceries, and at Little World Market.)• 2 T. minced garlic• 1 T…
Lawyers set to take over Great Western Depot
While the rest of Springfield celebrated America’s 236th birthday, Pinky Noll and her husband, Jon, took history into their home by moving exhibits from the Great Western Depot into a carriage house at their Washington Park mansion. “I disassembled history on the Fourth of July,” Pinky Noll quips. The Independence Day move marked the beginning…
Saté peanut sauce
• 8 T. natural crunchy peanut butter• 3/4 c. minced white onion• 1 tsp. minced garlic• 1 c. coconut milk, reserved from above• 2 T. light brown sugar• 1 tsp. cayenne or to taste • 1/4 c. finely minced lemongrass, tender parts only• 1 T. fish sauce, see above• 1 T. soy sauce, preferably Kikoman…
Hacked Chinese Chicken with Szechuan peppercorns
• 1-2 lbs. boneless, skinless poached or grilled chicken, cooled• 1 T. minced garlic• 1/4 c. cilantro • 4 T. soy sauce• 6 T. smooth, natural peanut butter• 3 T. shao hsing (Chinese cooking wine), or substitute dry sherry or vermouth.• 3 T. honey• 2 T. Chinese (toasted) sesame oil • 1 1/2 T. seasoned…
Crab and sweet corn salad
• 2 c. crabmeat (or substitute small cooked shrimp or larger shrimps cut into bite-sized pieces)• 2 c. cooked sweet corn kernels (4 ears should yield about 2 c.)• 1/2 c. chilli sauce, bottled or homemade• 1/2 c. mayonnaise ,preferably Duke’s or Hellman’s, mixed with 1 T. minced scallion, and 1 T. minced jalapenos (optional)•…
End of the roadshow?
THR and Associates, the Springfield company that buys gold, silver and othervaluables in buying shows throughout the nation, has canceled its shows and toldworkers that they can apply for unemployment benefits, according to an emailobtained by Illinois Times. “Effective immediately, all shows are to be shut down and the staff is to gohome!!” employees were…
Up in Arms
Formed nearly six months ago in the aftermath of the breakup of three Springfield rock bands, Up In Arms came together with the “common state of mind to bring the best music they can into the Midwest and relight the lost spark of Pop-Punk in the area,” and they’re on their way to accomplishing the…
Outsourcing local news
While some of the most prestigious newspapers in the nation are tarred by a scandal involving fake bylines on stories produced by overseas writers, the State Journal-Register is making plans to start publishing stories produced in Rockford. GateHouse Media, parent company of the State Journal-Register, will establish a so-called content hub in Rockford where writers…
Living pictures come to life again
“The ladies of Springfield gave a grand Tableaux last week for the benefit of the Soldiers Aid Society,” Mercy Conkling wrote to her son in 1862. “It was a brilliant affair. Mrs. Edwards told me it was decidedly the handsomest entertainment ever got up in this place.” The tableau vivant, or “living picture,” was a…
Art fun in the summertime
Since mounting its first group show on 11/11/11, upstart local art collective The Pharmacy has already become something of a Springfield institution. Along with providing work space for a variety of area visual artists, the 401 South Grand Ave. West location has also become a haven for local writers via its “Pharmacy Literati” wing, as…
Civil liberties
Springfield-area American Civil Liberties Union and Liberty Brew & View host a free showing of the powerful new documentary, Better This World, on Tuesday, July 17. UIUC Law Professor Steve Beckett speaks after the film. The film is a dramatic story of idealism, loyalty, crime and betrayal as the War on Terror made its impact…
Letters to the Editor 07/12/12
PRIVATIZATION PERILI have been hearing and reading about the trash issue for many years, yet nothing ever gets done [see “Garbage in, garbage out, garbage everywhere,” by Bruce Rushton, July 5]. Currently in Normal the city provides waste pickup. You can put most anything at the curb and it’s gone. However there is a debate…
Suing the state
The state of Illinois has been sued by retired state workers who say that the state is illegally forcing retirees to pay health insurance premiums. In the suit filed July 10 in Sangamon County Circuit Court, attorneys for five retired state workers say that a new state law calling for retirees to pay premiums violates…
Visual virtuosos
zthe Pharmacy shines again. Go swiftly into the good July 14 night, and get absorbed in the third art exhibition in The Pharmacy’s warehouse on Pasfield Street. On display will be the work of Pharmacy artists, including many new members’ pieces, alongside the canvases of dazzling founder Andrew Woolbright. An installation by UIS professors, Shane…
Millions of women benefit from Affordable Care Act
The Supreme Court’s ruling upholding the Affordable Care Act marks a critical victory for women’s health, and the health of all Americans. Because of this landmark decision, millions of women and families will continue to have access to affordable, quality health care – many of whom previously had inadequate coverage or no coverage at all.…
