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The pause that regresses
The kids at District 186’s Southern View elementary school began classes in July again this year. The school is one of two in the district that operate what is almost always called yearround school, even though “year-round” school it isn’t.

Unemployment 101
At first you will want to cry. That was my experience each time I heard the “We have to let you go” bomb at 3 o’clock on Friday afternoon. Being laid off is always a shock. Your emotions will be running high as your mind tries to find a way out of this mess.

Non-organic organic food
When it comes to a healthy diet, I am not a purist. Too late for that because I grew up eating such culinary concoctions as toasted sandwiches constructed of Spam, white bread and that oddly orange, oddly spongy cheeselike stuff known as Velveeta.

for carol manley
at four o’clock the birds in the garden attend to their psalms it is that sort of day beginning with a consecrated hour.

LETTERS
Being one of the first to rent, then buy, a place from Carolyn Oxtoby I can attest to the truth of what her article states. [See “My hope for downtown,” by Carolyn Oxtoby, Aug. 6.] I’ve lived downtown since 1977 when I moved here from Philadelphia, where downtown living was a luxury.

CWLP’s culture of hostility
As far as government workers in Springfield go, Mike Williams has been surprisingly candid. He has described the gamut of emotions raised in him when he returned from vacation to find a noose hanging near his shared workstation at City Water, Light and Power’s water purification facility in late July.

FRIED PEPSI HITS STANDS
If you think Kurt and Jean-Ann Miller’s pork parfait — pulled pork, barbecue sauce and mashed potatoes served in a sundae dish — sounds strangely appealing, you’re gonna dig their fried Pepsi.

PEASE’S PLEASE
fudge or white chocolate almond cluster truffles for months, but in the midst of swimsuit season, haven’t surrendered to the little, tasty temptations. Well, we’re going to give you the perfect excuse.

License to profile
On what should have been a routine visit a local driver’s license station, Huong V. Nguyen unwittingly found himself in the middle of an international criminal conspiracy On June 30, Nguyen, a Springfield resident who was born in Vietnam, entered the office to update his driver’s license and get his yearly sticker.

Bangin’ in Springfield
Although groups of kids fighting is all too commonplace, it’s tough to say whether Springfield has a gang problem.

Prizewinner
Any time the state faces a financial crisis, the demands begin. Stop the sky glide. Melt the butter cow. Put the prize-winning Jersey heifer out to pasture. The Illinois State Fair is too expensive, and we just don’t need it. Naturally, fair organizers disagree.

A fair start, 156 years in the making
The founders of the newly-created Illinois State Agricultural Society wanted to give farmers an arena to discuss and advance their profession, so they decided to host a state fair. The first was held that October in Springfield on the near-west side grounds where Sacred Heart-Griffin High School now rests.

State fair beer tent bands
This is no complaint mind you just an observation on the situation. In fact using area bands gives our local musicians quite a boost in several ways.

Fair flowers
Among the tents, livestock buildings, corndog and lemonade stands at the Illinois State Fairgrounds, fairgoers can see a wide variety of colorful plants.

Julianne on Julie and Julia
More than makeup, clothing, hairstyle, elevator shoes and cinematography tricks transform Streep into Child: It’s also her uncanny replication of Child’s distinctive voice and enunciation, gestures and, not least, exuberance. That exuberance came through in television shows, appearances and biographies, one aptly titled Appetite for Life.

A 19th century pop star finds Springfield bad news
It’s never easy being a star, but if you believe a superstar concert pianist from that time, it was especially difficult in Springfield in the 1860s. The New Orleans-born Louis Moreau Gottschalk was a “hugely celebrated” concert pianist with a “tremendous following,” according to WUIS-FM music director and musician Karl Scroggin.

500 Days of Summer: A genuine look at love and loss
The most charming thing about the film, other than Deschanel, is Webb’s narrative approach. In covering the 500 days of this relationship, he shows us the progression of this love affair randomly. Day 290 jumps back to days three and four, then we are privy to day 154 which trips back to day 22 and so on.

Movie times
Kerasotes listings are for Friday, August 14 through Thursday, August 20. All times are subject to change. For updates on Kerasotes films, call 1-800-FANDANGO. For reviews of other films, visit www.illinoistimes.com..

PUB CRAWL
Arsonists Get All The Girls, See You Next Tuesday, Knives Exchanging Hands, Atilla.

BAND SPOTLIGHT
Ultraviolet began with Suzie Stephens’ desire for a live band at her birthday party. For Suzie it just so happened she wanted to be the singer in the band so she started her own and played the party.

FAIR
Southern rock legend Lynyrd Skynyrd opens the Grandstand on Friday night with special guest Bo Bice, who isn’t the only American Idol to shake the stage. Pop sensation Kelly Clarkson hits the arena with her huge pipes on Saturday night with guest Eric Hutchinson.

THE CALENDAR
Submit calendar listings at www.illinoistimes.com.

FAIR
Each day of the fair is tagged with a theme. Here are a couple you might want to attend. Veterans Day, Sunday, August 16, allows veterans and their families free admission to the grounds. A veteran’s parade and activities are highlights of the day. Futures for Kids Day takes place Friday, August 21.

PUBLIC NOTICES
NOTICE UNDER ASSUMED BUSINESS NAME ACT STATE OF ILLINOIS COUNTY OF SANGAMON TO WHOM IT MAY CONCERN: Notice is hereby given that on the 22nd day of July, 2009 a Certificate of Ownership of business was filed in the Office of the County Clerk of...

BOOKS
Springfield writer Bud Bartlett, author of the 2009 book Dollars,.

NEWSQUIRKS
Police charged Brent Nathan Frick, 26, with stealing a safe containing $69,000 in gold coins from a home in Coopersburg, Pa., after a witness who knew Frick saw him bust open the safe in a nearby parking lot. Allentown’s Morning Call reported the witness noticed some of the papers in the safe had another person’s name and notified police.

THE ADVICE GODDESS
My boyfriend of a year is wonderful, intelligent, kind and hilarious. He told me he’d never been in love until meeting me, and while he’d had more sex partners than he’d like to admit, before me, it was all meaningless. Then, yesterday, I read an article about a prostitution ring, and asked how prostitutes can advertise without getting arrested.