Mobile homes, divorce and fancy fiddlin’
Housing is a big part of the human experience, but we rarely think about how much it affects our lives. A person’s home says a lot about them, and mobile homes are no exception. The fifth-ever issue of Illinois Times on Oct. 16, 1975, explored the rise of the mobile home and its evolving place…
Campbell goes to pot
Jack Campbell, who lost a bid last year to become Sangamon County sheriff, has been tabbed by the state Department of Agriculture to run the agency’s Bureau of Medicinal Plants, the office tasked with enforcing state laws and regulations pertaining to medical marijuana growers. Campbell, who remains employed by the sheriff’s office as a sergeant,…
Moments: Photographs by David Brodsky exhibition opening tonight
Two-time IT cover subject David Brodsky is a wonderful photographer with an eye for the odd and striking moment and an impeccable instinct for both composition and mood. Starting tonight and running through August 31, Sangamo Club will host an exhibition of his photos. Read about David here, look at some of his work online…
Town character
“This is, I think,” explained the author to an interviewer in 1947, “a departure from the usual method.” That departure was to write a novel in which an American town would be the chief character, with the human beings as the background. That novel was American Years by Bloomington writer Harold Sinclair, published in 1938. The book…
Why Christie should not be president
When Mitt Romney’s campaign was investigating potential choices to be his 2012 running mate, they gave each prospect a fish-themed code name, such as Lake Fish, Filet-O-Fish, etc. Their name for New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie, a tireless self-promoter known for his bloated ego, was Puffer Fish. The Romneyites determined that the prima donna governor…
A primer on Statehouse weirdness
After staring at my computer screen for over an hour, I realized that my goal of providing you a succinct and thoughtful analysis of what happened on a very weird day last week in Illinois government was impossible. Instead, we’re going to have to take this in pieces. The court case – C.J. Baricevic was…
Letters to the editor 7/16/15
MAYOR ON THE MUSEUMI would like to provide an update regarding the actions I have taken as mayor for the City of Springfield, along with the aldermen, in support of keeping the Illinois State Museum system open. It was agreed at the council meeting on June 21 that the city would take a more proactive…
Editor’s note 7/16/15
In his appearance at the Presidential Library Tuesday, one of the great liberals of Illinois politics, Abner Mikva, set many of us to reminiscing as he told stories from his 10 years in the Illinois House, 8 years in Congress, 16 years as judge on the federal Court of Appeals and two years as White…
There’s more to the museum than most know
This letter expresses my objection to closing the Illinois State Museum system. I believe that Gov. Bruce Rauner was given bad advice when told to close the museum. Although figures showing the positive economic impact of the museum system are readily available, his advisers could not have known all the ways in which the museum…
A gallery under the stars
Make your mark on Washington Street July 18 at the Springfield Art Association’s Third Annual Paint the Street Fest, held 2-10 p.m., between Fourth and Seventh streets. Individuals and community groups are invited to purchase six-foot by six-foot squares of street to paint anything they desire. The SAA will provide all necessary painting supplies including…
Cruise to community gardens
This event sends those interested in urban agriculture and communal gardening on a self-guided tour of more than 20 school, neighborhood and community gardens plus the rooftop garden at Maldaner’s Restaurant. The free tour requires no advance registration, and the self-guided aspect of the tour enables cruisers the opportunity to explore each garden to their…
Anything is possible
Springfield Clinic and The Legacy Theatre are proud to present Broadway’s musical presentation of Disney’s Mary Poppins. This classic tale tells the story of a mysterious nanny who arrives at the home of the Bates family during the turn of the century in England. Using a combination of magic and common sense, Mary Poppins helps…
Requiem for a scream
I’m a 28-year-old woman in a relationship with a really great guy. The problem is, it started as a hookup, and I faked my orgasm. I didn’t announce I was having one, but I, um, made certain noises. I was enjoying myself, but I just didn’t feel one coming, and I didn’t want him to feel…
What were they thinking?
Curses, foiled again• British police recovered a stolen car in Middleton when the two suspects tried driving it into the police station parking garage. Surveillance footage shows the 25-year-old and 26-year-old men thwarted by the security gate but unable to back up because two police vans were waiting behind them. Thinking the vans were pursuing…
Take me out to the ballgame
Springfield has seen a number of major league players both from here and passing through. From left to right: Jayson Werth, Robin Roberts, Ray Chapman and Dick Schofield. Illustration by David Hine. In almost every large town in the state, base ball clubs have been organized this spring. We notice in our exchanges, not only…
Successful Seussical
Sour Kangaroo, the Cat in the Hat, Horton and Jojo. Photo BY Mark Mangiaracina COURTESY SPRINGFIELD MUNI OPERA Springfield’s Muni Opera was blessed with a dry, comfortable evening for opening night of Seussical the Musical July 10. The show, based on Dr. Seuss’ popular books including Horton Hears a Who and Miss Gertrude McFuzz, has…
Mud dawgs
Racers run, climb, walk, swim and crawl through 30 obstacles and hills. PHOTOS BY ANDRE NACAXE COURTESY M&M MULTISPORT CLUB In recent years, the running world has witnessed a boom in obstacle courses, mud runs and other themed events. Adventure races have increasing appeal to a wide range of audiences because they present new challenges…
An uphill battle over coal mining
PHOTO BY PATRICK YEAGLE If Catherine Edmiston of Hillsboro gets her way, coal mining in Illinois could be drastically curtailed. The 85-year-old Edmiston has been fighting for a decade to shut down the Deer Run Mine near Hillsboro, and her battle may be coming to an end as the Illinois Department of Natural Resources decides…
Rail consolidation chugging along
Springfield’s ongoing rail consolidation project could soon take a step forward, even as state lawmakers add a new layer of oversight. Construction on two new underpasses for the 10th Street rail corridor is scheduled to begin next summer, and an underpass already under construction is due for completion later this year if weather permits. Meanwhile,…
DAZZLING DENTALS
Central Counties Health Centers in Springfield has long provided invaluable health care to many people who otherwise couldn’t afford it. Now, CCHC is getting some recognition – in the form of a $100,000 check. The Delta Dental of Illinois Foundation announced on July 14 that CCHC won the Foundation’s third annual Wisdom Tooth Award, which…
KIDZEUM CALLS
Kidzeum, the proposed Springfield museum for kids, is seeking additional TIF funding from the city of Springfield, with hopes of starting construction as soon as possible. The joint effort between St. John’s Children’s Hospital and SIU School of Medicine previously asked for $975,000 in funding from the downtown TIF district but received only $675,000 because…
Science saves Self/less
Ryan Reynolds as Young Damian in Self/less. PHOTO COURTESY Focus Features Tarsem Singh’s Self/less uses a common wish as the basis for its premise: What would you do if you were given the chance to live your life again? This has been used in the movies many times over, most famously in It’s a Wonderful…
Mid-July roundup
Epsom rides into a record release celebration at The Pharmacy Gallery and Art Space on Sat., July 18, 8 p.m. to midnight. Welcome friends, to mid-July in central Illinois as the music heats up right along with the local weather. This week features record release parties and fundraisers, closely related events in nature, when you…
Anni Piper
This bass-playing, award-winning, world-traveling blues vocalist recently relocated from her native Australia to Cocoa Beach, Florida, all the while continuing her scorching career in the world of blues music. Anni dropped her first album in 2004, garnering a Best New Talent nod from the Australian Blues Music Awards in the process. Continuing on a trajectory…
Running mates
CARTOON BY CHRIS BRITT
Sauces for summer
Salsa Verde on hot-smoked salmon, berries with Créme Anglaise, Garlic Scape Aioli. Photo BY PETER GLATZ Summer is a time for sauces that are fresh and light and don’t require lots of time standing over a hot stove. (I’m designating BBQ sauce as a separate category.) The first four recipes call only for chopping and…
canoe poem #1
we canoed on the wisconsin river fourdays of wilderness wind water the treesa closed screen on either bank depth ofwater too suddenly shallow for powercraft sand always shifting our small groupalone except two anglers on farther shorecars a shock when we paddled beneath abridge a quick storm a rainbow the greenon trees nearby and at…
