No supernova, but the star party goes on
The science world was abuzz last week with the sighting of a spectacular galactic event, the kind that only comes once in several decades. Astronomers at the Palomar Transient Factory in southern California discovered a white dwarf star in a distant galaxy exploding into a bright supernova. It’s been 25 years since astronomers last saw…
Anti-tax Republicans move in for the kill
Last year, the state Senate Republicans tested anti-tax messages in their campaigns without much success. While almost all Senate Democrats had voted for a large income tax hike along with an expansion of the sales tax to services, the Republican message just didn’t work because the tax bill the Democrats backed never became the law…
Looking back
Satchel Paige wisely advised us, “Don’t look back: Something may be gaining on you.” He’s right. I addressed the time and energy costs of daily commuting to jobs in Springfield in “Stuck in Carlinville with the Springfield blues again” (Aug. 25). Hillsboro reader Jean Mehochko reminds me that alternatives exist. She is a regular on…
Corporate elites still doing a job on American workers
In this week of Labor Day, our country is engulfed in deep economic anxiety, and no doubt you share my heartfelt concern for those Americans who’re suffering the worst of these uncertain times. I refer, of course, to millionaire corporate chieftains and big bankers. What? You thought maybe I was referring to our 25 million…
Veteran receives care and wants others aware
Before having extensive dental work, Kirby Carlson would cover his mouth when he talked to hide his teeth. The 40-year-old Persian Gulf War veteran of Springfield has since found his confidence and is in pursuit of a new job, as he is currently unemployed. He says he is very grateful for the dental care…
lakepoem # 16
lakepoem # 16 the lake is so stillit’s sacrilege to mar itwith my dawn swim’sripples 2011 Jacqueline Jackson
PRIMARY PRIVACY
Voting in an Illinois primary election means revealing your political leanings – a problem if you work in a place necessarily connected to politics, say proponents of a constitutional amendment that would make primaries private. Bill Clutter, a Democratic candidate for the 48th Senate district, is heading the charge for change and aims to garner…
Barrel Head closes
The Barrel Head, a popular tavern at 1577 W. Wabash in Jerome, has shut down amid a foreclosure battle with Illinois National Bank. A closed sign appeared on the tavern door on Labor Day weekend and remained there on Tuesday. Owner Kevin Davlin, brother of the late Springfield mayor, could not be reached for comment.…
Susan’s story
Construction at the Dana-Thomas House continues, but the historic site’s Sumac Shop remains open. That is the site of a book signing by Roberta Volkmann, author of a new biography, Susan Lawrence: The Enigma in the Wright House. The book chronicles the complex and independent lifestyle of the fascinating woman who commissioned Frank Lloyd Wright…
Celebrating history through the arts
A new event at the Old State Capitol on Sept. 10 follows an old tradition – showcasing artists and art in the building. It’s a practice that dates back to the 1800s. The event, “Celebrating Sangamon County History Through the Arts,” is sponsored by the Sangamon County Historical Society (SCHS) and will feature a visual…
State’s new definition makes crowded prisons sound OK
State prisons are not overcrowded if you ask the Illinois Department of Corrections. “We are currently below capacity,” says Sharyn Elman, IDOC spokeswoman. Others disagree. “Overcrowding has been a longstanding problem in the state’s prisons,” says Anders Lindall, spokesman for the American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees Council 31, which represents guards. John…
September stuff
Whew, what a summer of goings on it was. I’m all worn out from the excitement of fairs and festivals, and I’m supposing you are as well. Now things slow down a bit, but plenty of upcoming shows are on the calendar for the next few weeks and on into the fall. If you’re yearning…
Letters to the Editor 9/8/11
PINCHIN’ PENSIONS For the most part, the story on pensions was balanced [see “Pinchin’ pensions,” by Rachel Wells, Sept. 1] although I would like to have seen more emphasis on the full funding by the employees and the partial funding on behalf of the state. You have two misstatements of fact. On the top of…
Deke Dickerson and the Ecco-fonics
Hailing from nearby Columbia, Mo., Deke Dickerson has toured the world as an entertaining guitarist and developed an international career as a journalist/historian in the arena of American roots music. No stranger to Springfield, Dickerson was an early participant in the Sangamon Valley Roots Revival and continues to stop by the capital city when his…
Springfield’s police review board has stalled
A once-controversial civilian review board aimed at policing Springfield police has faded into oblivion. “It seems like nobody cares anymore about what’s going on in the police department,” says Frank McNeil, a former alderman who spent more than 15 years convincing his colleagues to approve civilian review of alleged police misconduct. The Springfield Community Police…
Intensity in Warrior doesn’t obscure cliches
If there were one word I would use to describe Gavin O’Connor’s Warrior it would be “intense.” The characters are intense, the emotions they’re burdened with are intense and don’t even get me started on the situations they find themselves in…man, they’re intense! Too bad O’Connor and his two co-writers didn’t take the same approach…
9/11 blind
After witnessing the first jetliner crash into the Twin Towers on that Sept. 11 morning, a friend of mine’s wife and 7-year old daughter fled to their nearby Manhattan loft and ran to the roof to look around. From there, they saw the second plane explode in a rolling ball of flaming fuel across the…
Gravel pits won’t get the job done
Considering the Hunter Lake issue, I would like to bring up some points I believe other people may want to think about. [See also commentary by Reg Davis, “Say yes to Hunter Lake,” published Dec. 31, 2008.] For years I have heard some people voicing that there are better and cheaper alternatives, namely the wells…
Tasteful combo
This craft beer and oyster festival at The Inn at 835 features more than 50 local and nationally-recognized craft beer vendors such as Flossmoor Station Brewing Company sampling Rail Hopper IPA, Pullman Brown, Stationmaster Wheat; and Springfield’s Prairie Schooner Brew Club sampling Maple Wheat, Mt. Dew Brew, Pecan Brown and an Oyster Stout beer. Admission…
Duvall doesn’t lay up in predictable Utopia
Sometime a single actor can make a predictable script seem fresh and such is the case where Robert Duvall and Seven Days in Utopia is concerned. This Christian sports parable casts the actor as a benevolent and wise mentor who spouts hoary life lessons to his pupil, a wayward golfer (Lucas Black), with such conviction…
Making Springfield a compassionate city
Long, long ago, Rabbi Hillel, an older contemporary of Jesus, was challenged to teach the Torah while standing on one foot. Hillel responded, “That which is hateful to you, do not do to your neighbor.” He went on to tell his challengers that this statement alone sums up the teachings of the Torah and that…
Creamy heirloom tomato soup
The recipes in Homegrown and Handmade are simple and basic, all the better to showcase Niemann-Boehle’s homegrown products. Her tomato soup recipe calls for frozen tomatoes, but presumably fresh would work, too. She doesn’t specify if the herbs used are fresh or dried; I would double the amount if using fresh. I’d also whisk the…
Moving to the music
Here’s a chance to see the dancing of the Springfield Ballet Company in a different light, or should we say sound, as they team up with the St. Louis rock band Downstate, instead of the orchestra, and move to the music of Dave Matthews Band, Aretha Franklin, Janis Joplin, Fleetwood Mac, Adele and more. You’ll…
Homegrown and Handmade
“When I was pregnant with my first child, I really thought that a fast food cheeseburger and fries was a complete meal. After all, there was meat, dairy in the form of the cheese, bread in the form of a bun, the tomato and lettuce were vegetables, and so were the fries.” Deborah Niemann-Boehle has…
ENGLISH 101, CALCULUS 203, A TRIP TO PARIS?
Mais oui, a jaunt on the continent can get you college credit at Lincoln Land Community College. Chris McDonald, a political science professor, is planning a nine-day trip to France for next year’s spring break, thus the course title of “Springtime In Paris.” Both students and folks who just want to be smarter than they…
