Disney’s on Ice Frozen Sweepstakes
Discover the full story of Disney’s Frozen like never before at Disney On Ice presents Frozen! Be a part of Anna’s adventure to find her sister, Queen Elsa, whose icy powers trapped the kingdom in an eternal winter. Join Olaf, Kristoff, and Sven as they encounter wintry conditions and mystical trolls in a race to bring back summer.…
When I lost my dog
There’s never a good time to lose your dog, but my dog chose the 11th hour of a 16-hour workday during the hellish heat wave that hit near the climax of the state budget impasse. I was at a committee hearing for a bill I’d been watching for more than two years when my son…
Workers of America, rejoice!
As our nation of working stiffs celebrates Labor Day with backyard cookouts, an afternoon at the beach, rounds of golf, special sales at the mall or simply kicking back in a La-Z-Boy and doing several rounds of 12-ounce elbow bends, we can all take comfort in the happy news that our economy is whizzing! Yes,…
GOP putting some hope in red meat referendums
I’ve told you about the non-binding referendums to be held in dozens of Downstate counties designed to entice pro-gun voters to the polls, but that’s not the end of the story. “Shall the [local county board] pass a resolution that opposes any gun control legislation in the Illinois General Assembly?” most of the Downstate ballot…
Letters to the Editor
FOOD AS MEDICINEHow encouraging to read the ideas presented in “Food as Medicine” by Peter Glatz (Illinois Times, Aug. 30)! Realizing that proper nutritious food can be used to reverse chronic degenerative disease is a relatively new breakthrough for mainstream news, although medical health journals have made the connection for decades. The Springfield Vegetarian Association…
Doctor diversity saves lives
Diversity in the doctor’s office saves lives. That’s the finding of a recent study from Harvard. Researchers at the T.H. Chan School of Public Health examined outcomes for over 1.2 million Medicare patients treated by 44,000 internists at American hospitals. Patients treated by foreign medical graduates had better 30-day survival rates than patients treated by…
A pre-century celebration
Calling all cycling enthusiasts! The Capital City Century has expanded to provide a whole weekend of fun, including the first-ever Loops-A-Palooza, a community cycling festival featuring music by popular local band The Loops. In addition to offering cyclists packet pickup services as well as a last-minute chance to register for the 46th Annual Capital City…
Have fun while helping children
On Saturday, September 8, show your support for Prevent Child Abuse Illinois by attending the first-ever Downtown Springfield Family FunFest. The outdoor festival is specifically geared towards children and their families, and features inflatable obstacle courses and bounce houses, games, activities, food trucks, special character appearances, and a main stage packed with a full day…
Mock Love to Me
My boyfriend has this irritating habit of making fun of my outfits or my spray tan. When I get upset, he says I’m being “sensitive.” I try to look cute for him, and I just don’t think it’s funny for your boyfriend to mock your appearance. Is this his issue or mine? If it’s his,…
A life in music
“One of the things I had said all my life was, I want my own chorus,” said Marion van der Loo. “I wanted a chorus where I chose the music, I taught the music and I conducted the music.” In 2005, van der Loo got her wish when she was hired as director of the…
Harsh story well told
Sundown Town is an easy, yet difficult, read. It’s a page-turner with an unbelievable, yet believable, story. Taking the reader from Alabama to Illinois right before the turn of the century, the authors give us everything a well-rounded story needs to be good. Even an ending. Sundown Town utilizes the coal mine wars of the…
New laws streamline mental health and addiction treatments
Governor Bruce Rauner signed into law a package of bills to improve treatments and medical access for mental health and substance use disorders. At a press conference at the Memorial Center for Learning & Innovation in Springfield, Rauner, mental health experts and substance abuse treatment advocates discussed the bills, while stressing the importance of adequate…
Explore the world from Springfield
Springfield-area residents can learn firsthand about U.S. foreign policy and global economic issues through free programs presented by the World Affairs Council of Central Illinois (WACCI). This civic organization hosts a speaker series with experts on a wide range of topics that are important globally and also have a local impact. The first program of…
Gripping Searching falters at the end
Every parent’s worst nightmare is at the center of Aneesh Chaganty’s Searching, an at times harrowing abduction story that revolves around one father’s search for his missing daughter. However, instead of going on the run and using a particular set of skills a la Liam Neeson, the dad in question uses his child’s computer to…
Round up the music
The first full weekend of September gets us going into the fall mode and mood with an array of outdoor festivals featuring live music, including an Oktoberfest, an Art Spectacular, a Family FunFest, a Traditional Music Fest and a Joe & Jerry Tribute, along with our usual suspects at local venues. On Saturday from 12:30-10:30…
Eddie Korosa & the Boys from Illinois
As the son of “America’s Prince of Polkas,” 7-year-old Eddie Jr. began playing drums for his dad’s world-renowned polka band and on his Emmy-nominated television show. By the time young Eddie had picked up the accordion, his life’s work was before him as he followed in the footsteps of his famous father to build a…
Weeknight dinners
“What should I make for dinner?” This seems to be a question that plagues working families everywhere. Not long ago, I was waiting to pick up my daughter when I overheard some other moms discussing this very topic. “Ugh. I’ve got to go home and figure out what to make for dinner. I’m so tired…
Archival find: An early essay of mine My Pet
Archival find: An early essay of mineMy Pet I have a pet pig. I named him Jackyafter myself. He was born on our farmand is quite a big pig now. My pig was very clever when he wasa baby but now all he does is lie in the mud and eat. One day I came…
