Live Poet’s Society
In the mid-1980 a Chicago construction worker named Marc Smith was organizing an open-mic poetry night at the Green Mill, an Uptown jazz club once famous for its association with Al Capone. Smith had selected the venue because he hated poetry readings–they were far too genteel. He wanted to turn his evening into a knock-down…
No favors please
Black Guardians Association, the group of African-American police officers, is asking the City of Springfield for a very special favor. Namely, no special favors. In a brief press release issued this week, BGA expressed “concern regarding the City of Springfield’s past lack of commitment to diversifying its police force.” But the press release goes on…
Movie Review – Down With Love
Down With Love Is it a romantic comedy or a Mad parody of one? Down With Love, directed with great panache by Peyton Reed (Bring It On), works as both, providing big laughs and an affectionate nod at a quaint sub-genre relegated to the realm of afternoon airings on the Turner Classic Movies network. Down…
Where the wild things are
From the first step, education coordinator Sally Patterson enlists the help of the students she leads through the green world of Lincoln Memorial Garden. “Everyone keep your eyes open: I only have one set of eyes. If we work together we can see a lot more.” Before long a small girl squeals, pointing: “There’s a…
Behind closed doors
For the past ten years, the Illinois Press Association has been pushing for a tougher Open Meetings Act. IPA would have a much easier time if nearly every governmental body in Illinois didn’t oppose it. Beth Bennett, IPA’s director of government relations, joined the association 15 years ago. Soon after starting her job, she began…
Early childhood resources
Community Child Care Connection (525-2805) helps parents find and even pay for child care. Early Start (525-3163) is a District 186 program for children ages three to five. Screening process required and waiting lists possible. Head Start is based out of the Springfield Urban League, 1108 E. Cook (528-0893). Early intervention and education programs for…
Now Playing 5-22-03
Come on in. Sit a spell. Or conjure up a night of music and merriment, compliments of the Springfield nightlife. If blues are your bag, rest easy, my friend–for now. You’ll need your strength to catch all the shows in town this week. On Friday the Underground City Tavern kicks off the unofficial blues bonanza…
Never screened in Springfield
Roger Ebert’s Overlooked Film Festival, which took place last month in Champaign-Urbana, always reminds local film buffs how limited our movie choices are here. Kerasotes has improved in recent years, but there are still numerous films that completely bypass Springfield. The local alternatives–the Route 66 Film Festival and the Springfield Arts Council’s foreign film series–offer…
Red, ripe, and ready
Twice a week Rosemary Garrett carefully loads about 500 pounds of her freshly picked tomatoes into 20-pound containers and drives them from her home in Chambersburg to Springfield. Garrett is just one of 36 Illinois growers who will be selling produce at the Old Capitol Farmers Market every Wednesday and Saturday from now until October…
Troubled waters
For a small Midwestern city with a clean, wholesome reputation, Springfield’s 1998 outbreak of leptospirosis seems nothing short of bizarre. It was by far the largest epidemic of that illness in United States history. Five years later no one knows what caused such an unusual disease to visit here on such a large scale. What’s…
The need for speed
Donnie Beechler knows what it’s like to whip past a cheering crowd at 200 miles per hour. In the basement of his Springfield home, the three-time Indy 500 veteran has a mini museum documenting his racing career: Fire resistant suits stand next to Indy 500 helmets on pedestals. A coin-operated racing simulator allows guests to…
Bards of the Sangamo 5-22-03
This week we have a poem by Corrine Frisch from her new chapbook, Seasonal Affections. Frisch will give a reading on Wednesday, May 28, at Imo’s Pizza, 751 S. Durkin. Frisch’s reading, sponsored by Poets & Writers Literary Forum, will be preceded by an open mic. at 7 p.m. Frisch is the director of public…
Baby boosters
My wife and I have a son who’s 20 months old. We also have an unsettling book called What to Expect: The Toddler Years. In it, we learn, month-by-month, what our boy should be able to do. The book advises that at 20 months Luke “should be able to” run and use a spoon or…
Help wanted
There’s apparently another job opportunity at the City of Springfield: legal advisor to the Springfield Police Department. Bill Workman, who had held that position since late 2000, was terminated May 7. Corporation Counsel Jenifer Johnson confirmed the move, but said she can’t comment on personnel matters. Bradley Wilson, who is defending Workman in a civil…
Your Turn. . .5-22-03
Calling out to the Class of 1960 Dear editor, I’m part of a group of women from Feitshans High School, Class of 1960, trying to start a girls night out with all of our old classmates. We have met four times so far, always at different restaurants around Springfield for dinner. This has given us…
