SUPER SCHOOL
Feeding the hungry is a noble goal, but Trinity Lutheran School in Springfield takes it a step further. The school recently won a National School of Distinction award, given to fewer than 2,000 schools nationwide, from the nonprofit Schools Fight Hunger program run by ConAgra Foods. Trip Rodgers, principal at Trinity, says the school has…
Holiday movie preview
If you follow movies at all you know that the Hollywood studios release what they perceive to be their best films between Thanksgiving and the end of the year. They know that they need to keep their movies in the forefront of the minds of the members of the various film organizations, chief among them…
Court to rule on Springfield legislative district
While all eyes last week turned to the Republicans’ lawsuit against the new federal district map for U.S. congressmen, a similar GOP lawsuit against the legislative district map for Springfield’s state senators and state representatives may be teetering on the brink of collapse. Many of the same arguments are being used by the Republicans in…
Heartland troubadours
Catch the delightful Prairie Voices the day after Thanksgiving, Friday, Nov. 25, at the Old State Capitol. Starring local acclaimed actors Kevin Purcell and Aasne Vigesaa, this is a great time to hear and see the one-hour performance that so many others have raved about as something special. A highlight of the Old State Capitol’s…
Thanksgiving memories
My family has had a few Thanksgivings that really stand out. Most have involved either bad weather in the form of snowstorms, or traveling. When I was 10, we drove out to San Diego to have Thanksgiving with my grandmother’s brother and his wife. That one was weird – it didn’t seem like Thanksgiving at…
Bank of America: Always thinking of you
One way you can tell that a bank is in trouble is that it suddenly starts buying full-page ads in newspapers across the country that tell us what great shape it’s in and what a fine job it’s doing for our communities. Such a PR push is now being made by Bank of America, which…
Right on key
First Presbyterian Church offers a free lunchtime concert with pianist Agnes Wan on Wednesday, Nov. 30, starting at 12:15 p.m. Attendees may bring their lunch or purchase one at the door for $5. A Hong Kong native, Wan has won numerous awards from around the world. With a Doctor of Musical Arts degree in piano…
Get out of jail free – again and again
Jesse Myers is, by all appearances, a one-man crime wave. His first scrape with law enforcement as an adult came in 2008, when he was arrested on suspicion of theft and trespassing one month before his 18th birthday. He pled guilty to misdemeanor charges. In the spring of 2009, he pleaded guilty to five felony…
I can has prezents?!
With waggly tails and rumbly purrs, they show us the love every day. What better time of year than the holidays to delight a four-legged family member with a special gift? “Pets get so much joy out of toys,” says Lorrie Shaw,., pet owner and pet blogger. “They get to use all of their senses…
Letters to the Editor 11/23/11
IMMIGRATION VS. JOBS Regarding “Three strikes and you’re in: Immigrants as the solution, not the problem,” by James Krohe Jr., Nov. 10: In the first decade of the 21st century (2000 through 2009), employment levels only increased by 3.2 million, while the non-institutionalized civilian population grew by 28 million. As a percentage of population growth…
Give till it Hertz
For 10 years, this woman and I have had a hot-and-cold long-distance relationship, the temperature of which she’s always controlled. She’s 56; I’m 46. Last year, she felt ready to try for something lasting. She couldn’t afford to travel, so I paid for her flight. She stayed with me for two wonderful, passionate months, and…
Dawn finally gives viewers something to sink their teeth into
I’ve been rather outspoken in my disdain for the Twilight films. While I thought the first entry in the series was a passable if bloated piece of pop culture fodder, the other two films have been slow-moving exercises catering to the romantic ideals of the teenage girls that Stephanie Meyer’s overwrought melodrama is pitched to.…
Juvenile prisons now safer and more effective
Conditions in Illinois’ juvenile prisons are improving, according to one watchdog group, but problems of overcrowding, lack of education and inadequate staffing linger. A report released Nov. 16 by the John Howard Association of Illinois, a Chicago-based prison reform group, shows the Illinois Department of Juvenile Justice (IDJJ) has made improvements in safety and rehabilitation…
Audri says goodbye to Pops
Sept. 10. Pops had been in bed sleeping nearly 24 hours, so Karen and I went in to try to wake him, get him up. His eyes were open and staring straight ahead. The harsh snoring sound coming out of his mouth and the barely perceptible rise and fall of his chest were the only…
For an early holiday gift, see Arthur Christmas
While Aardman Animation’s Wallace and Gromit characters have been embraced in their native England, they’re only marginally known in the United States. Animation fans are aware of their odd relationship and the elaborate adventures they find themselves in, but the British sensibility they’re infused with has made them a bit of a hard sell to…
Group ride
Join other bicycle enthusiasts at November Critical Mass Friday, Nov. 25 at 5:30 p.m. for a night ride on the streets of Springfield. The leisurely-paced ride usually lasts about 45 minutes and averages about 15 riders. Helmets and lights are encouraged, but there are no rules. Springfield Critical Mass is part of an international movement/group…
COULDA BEEN WORSE
It’s a bird, it’s a plane, it’s a stricken helicopter on top of Memorial Medical Center! Believe it. The Bell helicopter operated by OSF Aviation was landing on the hospital’s helipad about 11 p.m. last Thursday when a wheel broke through a grate, sending the helicopter spinning about 80 degrees, said Brent Grady, executive director…
Lyal Strickland
A singer-songwriter with multi-generational farm roots from the Missouri Ozarks, Lyal Strickland brings a staunch sense of stability and well-worn sensitivity to the performance of his self-penned material. His talents in lyrical ability and music maturity underscore the young man’s deep well of emotional creativity, providing a focused and passionate persona delving into subjects seemingly…
e-Readers made easy
Nothing soothes quite like curling up with a good book. But with the booming e-reader market, the avid readers on your gift list might soon be curling up with thousands at once. As the popularity of e-readers continues to soar – reports show that 12 percent of adults in the United States own one, up…
Lux et veritas
City Water, Light and Power made money generating electricity during the past year, but just barely, Springfield’s top municipal utility official told the Citizens Club last week. “It’s been a very thin year,” chief utility engineer Eric Hobbie told the audience. “Are we making money off of it? Yes.” Nonetheless, a preliminary budget for next…
A house in a day
“Go east young man,” a neighbor advised my father, and in 1949 he and the rest of us did just that. For a veteran, it was cheaper in those days to buy than to rent, so we said goodbye to our apartment next to the Sangamo Dairy and headed to a GI Bill subdivision on…
All in the family
Another chapter in the tragedy of Tim Davlin, the former Springfield mayor who committed suicide nearly a year ago, was written Nov. 16 when a judge approved the sale of Mid-West Truckers Association stock purchased by the late mayor, apparently with stolen funds. Sangamon County Circuit Court Judge Pete Cavanagh approved an offer by Michael…
Get your thanksgiving on
What with all the thanks givings going on I thought I’d chime in with my two cents worth, which in this economy and adjusting for inflation and all that rot, may not amount to a hill of beans. Nevertheless that’s what’s so wonderful about giving thanks – the worth is incalculable and priceless, costs nothing…
phonepoem #1
phonepoem #1 the phone just rang it was newt gingrich without preamble the voice said “this is newt gingrich – as someone who loves america” – at which I hung up I can think of a number of things newt gingrich might love but america would not be on the list 2011 Jacqueline Jackson
Get on a casserole
Casseroles are an omnipresent holiday staple, be it grandma’s chicken-stuffed cheese concoction or a fried-onion encrusted green bean favorite. But getting comfortable with a casserole recipe can make it a forgettable presence on a holiday dinner table. “The best thing about casseroles is that you can be really creative,” says Stephanie Ashcraft, co-author of 200…
No injuries in helicopter mishap
It’s a bird, it’s a plane, it’s a stricken helicopter on top of Memorial Medical Center! Believe it. The Bell helicopter operated by OSF Aviation was landing on the hospital’s helipad about 11 p.m. last Thursday when a wheel broke through a grate, sending the helicopter spinning about 80 degrees, said Brent Grady, executive director…
Jack and Jill needs less Sandler and more Pacino
For some odd reason I was looking forward to Adam Sandler’s Jack and Jill. I can’t explain it, I certainly don’t have an excuse for it and I’ve never been on pins and needles waiting for any of the actor’s other movies. Out of concern for my health I went online and found out that…
Coroner’s office switches pathologists amid accusations of politics
While the wife of a doctor who conducts autopsies for Sangamon County considers running for coroner next year, Sangamon County coroner Cinda Edwards says that she is switching pathologists and that politics has nothing to do with it. Rachel Ralston, spouse of Dr. John Ralston, said that she has approached Jim Moody, chairman of the…
Spread it thin
If you still reach for a box of buttery-tasting crackers for the party cheese to rest on, you can find more appealing alternatives. Thanks to the cracker revival, you’re in for exciting new taste and texture sensations. “It keeps getting more interesting. I see more shapes and more flavors [of crackers],” says Kara Nielsen, trendologist…
Crunch time for the Hoogland
“I had a person recently ask me what I do here,” recalls Fred Jarosz, executive director of the Hoogland Center for the Arts. “And I told them, ‘I’m the beggar. I’m the one who goes out and begs for money. Gladly!’” The role of beggar has never been more important for the Hoogland. The organization…
Homegrown harvest
For those missing the downtown Farmers Market, the Holiday Farmers Market takes place Saturday, Nov. 19 at the Artisans Building on the Illinois State Fairgrounds. All your Thanksgiving dinner needs can be found here: meats, eggs, cheeses, veggies, Illinois wine and more. You can also purchase holiday gifts, hot drinks and lunch. The market is…
Talk derby to me
“The night that I fell in love with a Roller Derby Queen, Round and round, oh round and round, The meanest hunk of woman that anybody ever seen, Down in the arena …,” – Jim Croce, “Roller Derby Queen” Used to be, saying somebody hit like a girl was an insult. Not anymore. Don’t believe…
Don’t just salute veterans, rally with them
Here’s a surprise that the power elites really hate to see: Many members of the 1 percent are joining the “We are the 99 percent” movement in various Occupy Wall Street protests. I don’t mean that corporate CEOs and hedge fund billionaires are suddenly in the streets to show solidarity with millions of Americans who’re…
When will Quinn learn not to slam legislature?
“I love this governor!” exclaimed a jubilant utility lobbyist a few weeks ago. Why would a utility lobbyist express his undying love for our self-proclaimed consumer activist governor? Simple. The lobbyist was absolutely convinced that Gov. Pat Quinn’s over-the-top media antics had helped pass the so-called “Smart Grid trailer bill” by a huge margin and…
J. Edgar paints an incomplete portrait
“Sentimental” would probably not be the first word one would use to describe famed FBI director J. Edgar Hoover. However, after seeing Clint Eastwood’s curious biography of this tenacious bulldog of a man, you can’t help but feel a twinge of sympathy for him, a sentiment that runs counter to most people’s opinion. To be…
Snorting hope
I’ve been with my boyfriend for three years. The first year was rocky. He was selling drugs, got addicted, and went to prison. Three months after getting out, he relapsed. I persuaded his mother to send him to rehab, and afterward I found us an apartment, where we’ve been for six months. He has remained…
Leters to the Editor 11/17/11
GOOD PEOPLE I am the aunt of Jade Ostermeier [see “How did Jade and her baby die?” by Bruce Rushton, Nov. 10]. I think there should be a retraction and an apology given to Marc Fagan and Brenda Fagan and their brother who is in prison in Iowa. They had nothing to do with the…
chickenfeedpoem #3
chickenfeedpoem #3 and then there’s the rooster in thebackyard hedge between us and the neighbors he ate from the dogdishes at their backdoor and oursgrew into a bold and brassy chapwho dashed out to peck our kids in the sandpile that’s how he got his name boldpick is coming! theyscreamed scattering boldpick iscoming! when he…
OCCUPIERS GO INSIDE
While authorities in New York and elsewhere this week shut down Occupy Fill-In-Your-City-Here protests, Springfield occupiers who had planned a round-the-clock presence at the Old State Capitol Plaza faded away before their city permit expired on Tuesday. Spot checks over the past week revealed gaps in protest hours. Drew Duzinskas of Springfield, one of the…
A Libertarian asks, ‘What immigration problem?’
Arizona, Alabama and Georgia have each enacted stringent laws aimed at curbing illegal immigration. Before saying more, let’s be clear about the alleged problem. What is an “illegal immigrant”? It’s simply a person – possessing natural rights, mind you – who comes to the United States without the permission of the U.S. government. Now isn’t…
Immortals an empty, yet stunning tableaux
Having cut his teeth on music videos and delivered two stunning feature films (The Cell, The Fall), director Tarsem Singh has established himself as a dynamic visual stylist whose movies seemingly exist in a nether world that consists of beautifully rendered images of paradise and shocking sights of hell. His latest, Immortals, gives us a…
Ready to go retro?
Retro style is in, and kids can’t get enough of it, from cutting-edge clothing and accessories that recall the classics to thrift-shop home goods straight from grandma’s attic. A quest for individuality in a homogen -ized world is behind the vintage juggernaut, say trend watchers. So is a treacherous economy. “I think the resurgence started…
Chefs’ Thanksgiving
Thanksgiving is a time of feasting, togetherness – and cooking. Indeed, many people who rarely prepare meals cook on this most American of holidays. But what about chefs? They spend their working lives in front of their stoves. Is Thanksgiving a “busman’s holiday” for them? Or do they kick back and let others handle the…
TALK OF THE TOWN
There’s a lot to like about Springfield, and the Citizens Club of Springfield wants the whole world to know it. The Citizens Club is developing a “palm card” extolling the virtues of the capital city – everything from the easy commutes and top-notch hospital care to the nine golf courses and two farmers markets. The…
On the way to Thanksgiving Eve
Looks like that time is here again, when the biggest party night of the year rolls around on next Wednesday, Thanksgiving Eve. For the last several years I’ve been saying the night before Thanksgiving is now the number one night to go out and get real gone and party till the cows come home. I…
Catholic agency transfers foster care cases to DCFS
Catholic Charities for the Diocese of Springfield in Illinois announced Monday it would work with the Illinois Department of Children and Family Services to transfer its 290 foster care cases to other agencies as it prepares to stop providing foster care services. Meanwhile, two other religious charities in Illinois have set up independent nonprofit groups…
A creative visit from Vachel Lindsay’s granddaughter
The spirit of Vachel Lindsay was alive and well in Springfield Nov. 5 in the form of his granddaughter, Louisa Lindsay-Sprouse. She was visiting from Eugene, Ore., to promote creative writing in Springfield schools and to celebrate her grandfather’s 132nd birthday with the Vachel Lindsay Association at Maldaner’s Restaurant. Her grandfather’s expressive poetry readings seemed…
Branches of brilliance
Looking for a little Christmas spirit in November? Memorial’s Festival of Trees at the Orr Building Nov. 19-27 is a must for pre-season holiday cheer. You can walk around and see more than 150 trees and wreaths decorated by organizations and individuals. Various dancers, bands and singers perform. Other attractions include: children’s craft area, Santa,…
Asphalt somethingness
Returning to Springfield after a trip, even a local patriot sees as if for the first time what catches the eye of so many visitors. Pretend that the gaudy billboards do not exist. Look the other way when passing the prefab buildings that are more appropriate to house a disc harrow than a business in…
The Backliners
Self-described as “Great Rock and Roll!!!,” the Backliners certainly live up to their billing, getting better and better as proven by the growing list of 2012 bookings already in the works. Upcoming in the next year see our heroes at several special Quaker Steak and Lube events, plus at all the regular hot spots, such…
Strings of fire
Grab your hats for this Fast and Furious family concert at Sangamon Auditorium, UIS, featuring electrifying violinist Nicolas Kendall and music director candidate and guest conductor Alastair Willis. Hear John Adams’ popular “Short Ride in a Fast Machine,” Chris Brubeck’s “Spontaneous Combustion” and Beethoven’s “Fifth Symphony.” Kendall is also a member of the genre-defying trio…
Artisan gifts
The Twice Giving Gift Shop on the campus of the Midwest Distribution Center in Chatham opens its doors Saturday, Nov. 19, offering unique, handcrafted items made by artisans from around the world including local artisans. Enjoy cookies and wassail while shopping for every one on your list. The Midwest Distribution Center, a disaster relief facility,…
Lend a hand 2011
These central Illinois organizations need some extra help this holiday season. If your organization needs help you’re your list to: swhalen@illinoistimes.com Animal Protective League (APL)1001 Taintor Rd.(217) 544-7387http://www.apl-shelter.org The Animal Protective League (APL) is a private, not-for-profit animal welfare organization, funded by donations. It operates an animal shelter, a low-cost spay/neuter clinic, and maintains numerous…
iGifts
You might be a PC, but there’s no doubt that they’re a Mac –%u202Fand nothing else with suffice. If you need the perfect –%u202Fand newest –%u202Fperipheral to plug into their fruitful life, look no further. Here are the latest Apple gadgets they’re pining for. iPhone 4SThe new iPhone 4S takes everything to the next level.…
