As the headlines shift to a recovery in the housing market, with an increase in national home values and home sales, it would be easy to forget that many of our friends and neighbors are still struggling through the bad economy. Last year, more than 28,000 Illinois families lost their homes.

There was a lot “growing on” Feb. 12 as the Enos Park Neighborhood Improvement Association inaugurated the community meeting room at the new County Market grocery with a program on plans for gardening and composting on the neighborhood’s vacant lots.

Four years ago, Michelle Obama picked up a shovel and made a powerful symbolic statement about America’s food and farm future: She turned a patch of White House lawn into a working organic garden. But now, as she begins another four years in the people’s mansion, the first lady is probably asking herself: “How can I top that?” Thanks for asking, Ms.

FACTS UNDER FIRE This letter is in response to Jim Hibbett’s letter titled “Gun Issues” (Feb. 7). I am all for anyone expressing their opinions on any issue. But, when you express your opinions and use so called “statistics” to back up your opinions, make sure your “statistics” are verifiable.

For the first few decades of the 19th century, a state-owned southern Illinois salt works in Saline County used slave labor and produced almost a third of our government’s revenues. Fights over whether Illinois should become a slave state dominated the General Assembly for years.

In October 2011, the Illinois General Assembly passed the Energy Infrastructure Modernization Act, which authorized a $2.6 billion investment by ComEd to modernize the state’s electrical grid.

Ever wonder what all those doctors are doing in Springfi eld’s maze-like hospitals? We’re always told the Mid-Illinois Medical District is a pretty big deal for Springfi eld and Illinois in general, but what are they actually accomplishing? It turns...

Macoupin Energy, a subsidiary of Foresight Energy, knew about groundwater pollution problems at a Carlinville mine when it met with state EPA officials at least twice in the fall of 2008 to discuss possible solutions before purchasing the site then owned by Exxon, according to a Dec.

About 200 “scholars” at the Capital College Preparatory Academy, 1101 South 15th , will transition to other facilities when their school closes at the end of the current school year. The Springfield Public Schools Board of Education voted 4-3 in a four-hour meeting on Feb.

Under orders from a federal bankruptcy court, THR’s assets are being auctioned off to satisfy a list of creditors that includes the Internal Revenue Service, which is owed $3.4 million in delinquent income taxes, and the state Department of Revenue, which is owed $1.

Fate intervened in September of 1962, when the cousin of one of Sarah’s roommates invited himself over to their apartment to watch a football game on their television. Stuart Paterson was a 22-year-old first-year graduate student in the economics department.

I think I could make an argument that romantic movies are the hardest sort to make successfully. Tone and sincerity are so important in exercises of this sort and probably the most tenuous elements of these films. One moment that comes off as too sappy or melodramatic and the spell is broken.

There’s coffee and then there’s coffee. It ranges from gas station black swill you buy at 1 a.m. solely to push through the last hour of an extended road trip to fragrant ambrosia made from carefully selected and roasted beans that are freshly ground before being turned into brews prepared by trained baristas.

BoomBox, Signal Path, Justin Torres Loop Project, Annatomic and E-Holla.

When Bruce Baise (guitar, vocals), Dave Marr (guitar, vocals), Craig Wood (bass, vocals), Mark “Doc” Janis (drums), Steve Jackson (saxophone, clarinet, flute) and “Bad” Bill Robinson (harmonica, limericks) join together to create music, they bring decades of experience to the stage.

I’m telling you what – I had a whale of a time last Saturday night right here in lovely, downtown Springfield. From first being one of “those guys” not wanting to leave the house, I hit the Paul Collins Beat Bedrock 66 show, had a visit with the Blue G’s at Norb Andy’s and made a final stop for a midnight date with Elvis at the Butternut Hut.

Lincoln Land Community College’s Green Center is hosting the 10th Annual Central Illinois Composting Symposium, Feb. 20, noon to 5 p.m. in the Trutter Center. This year’s theme is Composting for a Sustainable Community and businesses and individuals can learn how to compost organic materials.

$39, $25. Sangamon Auditorium, UIS, 1 University Plaza, 217-206-6160, 800- 207-6960. Chicago Bar Association Chorus Concert.

The funny, award-stacked Shrek the Musical.

The Prairie Capital Convention Center will fill with games, activities and crafts for kids. For only $1 children can decorate their own cupcake or jump around with joy in one of the bounce houses ($5 wristbands are available).

If you missed The Marvelous Wonderettes.