This April, as they do every two years, the citizens of Illinois will elect about 3,000 of their neighbors to four-year terms on local school boards. About 1,300 are typically new to the board. The Illinois School Code lists two key eligibility requirements for school board members: They have to be U.

Every winter, when the snowflakes begin to fall, I would love to bring tidings of good cheer to my fellow townspeople but I can’t, because so many of their sidewalks are buried under snow. As the city of Ann Arbor, Mich.

No, no, the most insistent demand for attention is coming from way above the poor and the middle class. Believe it or not, it’s the CEOs of Americas biggest corporations and the top bankers of Wall Street who’re stamping their little Gucci-clad feet, bawling that they should be getting more love and support from the president.

Gratitude poem, without number.

The Army I serve in recognizes there is no place for sexual assault in today’s professional Army. Each unit has a victim advocate trained in how to respond to victims of sexual assault, and trained in how to handle their complaint in a manner the victim chooses.

Trade and industrial unions are hoping to mitigate major damage from proposed workers compensation reforms. Teachers unions are trying to fend off what it considers to be some egregious education reforms.

Celebrating 23 loved ones lost in 2010

In this last edition of the year, Illinois Times.

The solemn drone of bagpipes fills the cold winter air as hundreds of pensive mourners shuffle into the towering white stone church. Inside sits a family coping with the sudden, unexplainable loss of a father, son, brother and friend.

Fran Richardson was known and loved by many. I personally knew Fran from working with her at the state comptroller’s office. She started there in 2004, and always said how lucky she was to get such a good job at her age. Fran grew up in New Jersey, and met her husband and best friend, Tom.

Dr. Holland was born in a small town in West Virginia, the only child of his loving parents. He moved as a small boy to Kentucky and grew up on a tobacco farm. In 1955, he moved to Springfield and began quietly working to make our community a better place.

No one has had a greater impact on the Springfield Fire Department than Pat Ward, say his friends and family. The former city commissioner was behind every major leap forward in the city’s fire protection services from 1975 to 1991, they say, and on top of it all, “he was just a really great guy.

It was with a heavy heart that I plugged in our Christmas tree this year. I am certain that the lights are not nearly as bright as they were last year. Something is missing from the usual festivities. It is the first Christmas without my husband’s grandmother.

Malik Hines, a Springfield High School senior who, along with freshman Zena Garcia, died in a car accident in November, was known for his talents and for his unique sense of style. But what at least two of his friends will remember most is Hines’ smile.

For years Albert Boyd floated from table to table laughing and joking as he greeted diners at Boyd’s Family Style Restaurant.

On Nov. 6, I lost my husband of 42 years, Richard A. Luttrell. He lived in Springfield his entire life. He was a proud member of the 101st Airborne Association, A Co 2/327 Brigade (Separate) and served in Vietnam in ’67-’68. He reconnected with many of his Vietnam comrades through the annual and biannual reunions.

On June 20 the community lost a valued colleague and friend. Joe Hennessy, exhibits design chief at the Illinois State Museum in Springfield, shared his creativity and artistic talents with more than 4.2 million visitors since his arrival at the museum in 1989.

This year, University of Illinois Springfield lost someone who has been with it from its inception. Denny Frueh was one of the first graduates of then Sangamon State University (Now U of I Springfield).

Pauline and I met for the first time in 2004 at breakfast with other night shift nurses and assistants. “Oh my,” I said to myself as a large Pauline with a butch haircut joined us. Her pleasant voice revealed a strong Boston accent as she spoke. Easy conversation followed, and I found myself liking her as we became more acquainted.

John was a veteran of the U.S. Navy, who served aboard the USS Otis, USS LaSalle and USS Bairoko. He attended seven reunions of the USS Bairoko. He received a replica of the ship’s bell, which hangs in our dining area. The children love to ring the bell. He was very proud to have served his country.

I’m not sure if Kim Hepworth could shatter a glass with her voice. To be sure, she had one of the most powerful singing voices I’ve ever heard. But even if she couldn’t pull off the feat with her voice, I have no doubt she could break the glass with the sheer force of her will.

He moved here in 1973 to work at the Springfield Clinic. By 1979, he had established Prairie, with the goal to deliver state of the art critical medical care to people outside metropolitan areas, according to Shelton, who was recruited by Dove 18 years ago to become Prairie’s 12th physician.

For six years I’ve written poems for this publication. Many have included my daughter, Damaris Lee Jackson, born Jan. 15, 1954, in Oxford, England. She lived with me these past two years, while she was ill though seemingly well. She took her life Sept. 19.

The impact Caryl made extends beyond the Springfield community. In many ways, I feel I am writing on behalf of the multitude of people whose lives were touched by Caryl – a truly remarkable woman – a loving wife, mother, grandmother, professor...

Dad’s talents included being a won derful husband and father, pitching AAA softball in San Diego, Calif., coaching and managing Little League and Pony League teams, and Cub Scout and Boy Scout leader for several years, all in Assumption. As the children of these teams and packs became adults, they expressed their gratitude and respect for him.

Born on Halloween 2006, Joshua, whose journey began in Springfield, was plagued with multiple health issues, including heart and brain abnormalities and severe hearing loss. Only skin was keeping his thumb attached to his hand, and his left kidney was located in the front of his abdomen.

I first met Pat Hauversburk of Springfield more than 12 years ago at the Illinois State Archives, where I spent my Saturday mornings researching my own family genealogy. Pat had the patience of a saint, but a funny quirky attitude that might not qualify her for sainthood.

Mary Frances Lavin (affectionately known as Aunt Mary Fran) left an impression on thousands of young people in central Illinois over her 30-year teaching career. For 34 years she was a public school teacher at Fairview, Dubois, Washington and Lanphier schools.

When the radio is on, his familiar voice is absent. Ed Ruebling embodied all that was good about WQNA: Play lots of music and speak only as needed. It was an approach that harked back to his experience as a listener during the golden age of rock and roll.

“But he would back that up,” said his daughter-in-law Elaine Link, as his wife, Mary, and daughter, Jan Filicsky, nodded in agreement. “If we don’t need a dishwasher, he’d do the dishes; if we didn’t need a garage door opener, he’d open the garage door.

This is a method rather than a specific recipe. Stock can be made with whole chickens or chicken parts – even the parts not normally eaten, such as wing tips and necks. It can be made from the bones when the meat, either cooked or raw, has been removed.

The holidays are almost over. As always, I’ve enjoyed the preparation, parties and celebrations, and the copious amounts of food and drink. But usually even before New Year’s, I’m ready for it to end. Right now, nothing sounds so good as a quiet evening at home and a simple meal.

This recipe is the result of much experimentation. Though it’s easy to make flavorful vegetable stock, what’s usually missing is the body that the natural gelatins in meat bones provide. Finally I hit on it: okra! That and the potatoes give this stock its body, making it as good as, if not better, than meat stocks.

Tip the bowl at a shallow angle over the pot of simmering soup and cut off ribbons of dough, as thin as possible, with a knife or spatula as the dough spills over the edge and falls into the soup. Dip the knife or spatula into the soup to help release the dough from it, if needed.

While it’s no secret that the Hollywood studios save their best product for the end of the year, so that their films might be fresh in the minds that hand out year-end awards, never have I seen such an onslaught of quality movies during the last month of the year as I have in 2010.

You’ll find info about movies showing in Springfield, Jacksonville, Taylorville, and other nearby towns..

It’s out with the old and in with the new as we hop on board the 2011 train to continue our wondrous trip through time and space. Every civilization develops a calendar of sorts and they all seem to like celebrating when another year rolls around.

An accomplished musician on many levels, Randy Skalicky a.k.a. Cowboy Randy Erwin, found his niche several years ago as a yodeler of American western swing music. By learning tricky rope tricks (like lassoing stuff, dude), the Texas native developed an entertaining character who ropes and yodels some sweet oldfashioned tunes from the Wild West.

Dates, times and locations are subject to change, so we suggest calling before attending an event..

Find more details and gigs in our online calendar at www.illinoistimes.com.

Acoustic Celtic Music Session w/ Paddy’s Bargain.

The Springfield Area Arts Council plans a slew of musical, dance, theatrical and arts-related performances on New Year’s Eve at seven locations in downtown Springfield. There’s something for everyone in the family. Free activities for kids are planned from 1-4 p.

Gallery Opening for Kevin Veara and Toni Freesen.

“A Symphonic Suite of Music History,” presented by Richard A. Haglund, assistant conductor of the Illinois Symphony Orchestra and adjunct professor at Blackburn College, is the first in a four-part series that begins this year at the Hoogland Center for the Arts.

Reservations are required for this favorite children’s hour story time at the Dana-Thomas House. Three separate times have been made available for little ones to enjoy the fun of the mansion in much the same fashion as would have taken place during the days of Susan Lawrence Dana when she would invite children to the home for a story book reading.

More events, more details in our online calendar at illinoistimes.com.

IN THE CIRCUIT COURT FOR THE 7TH JUDICIAL DISTRICT SANGAMON COUNTY - SPRINGFIELD, ILLINOIS 2010 CH 01471 CitiMortgage, Inc., PLAINTIFF Vs.