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Going ’round and ’round:
For years the noise of vehicles colliding has been making the cats nervous around the intersection of MacArthur Boulevard and Lawrence Avenue. And for years the City of Springfield and residents on Springfield’s near west side have disputed how best to reduce the number of accidents.

Giving thanks for America’s good food movement
I’m talking about the growing movement of small farmers, food artisans, local retailers, co-ops, community organizers, restaurateurs, environmentalists, consumers and others — perhaps including you.

politicopoem (local) # 11
what shall we do with the homeless-o what shall we do with the homeless-o what shall we do with the homeless-o turn them out into the snow.

LETTERS
When Planned Parenthood attended the very first health care reform discussion at the White House in March, President Obama made it clear that, under health reform, Americans will not lose the benefits they currently have. Unfortunately, hours before the U.

McKenna’s latest “hair” ad is clever, but false
Four years ago during the last Republican gubernatorial primary, dairy magnate Jim Oberweis was sharply and widely criticized for running false newspaper headlines in his TV ads. Now, it’s happening again with a different wealthy gubernatorial hopeful.

SPREADING CHRISTMAS HOPE
Each year, Catholic Charities holds its Christmas store and food basket giveaway, allowing parents to pick out free toys for their kids while taking home an armful of food for the holidays. The food baskets hold a traditional Christmas meal and an extra week’s worth of food for about 500 families each year.

ALL ABOARD!
This week, Lynn Raney, creator of Tis’ Trains!, unveils a 17-by-30-foot display showcasing two Garden Gauge, scale 1:29 model trains that chug along together on a bi-level platform. One replicates a train used by the United States military during the Korean War from 1950 to 1953 and the other replicates a train used by the Emmett Kelly, Jr.

Illinois sixth in power plant CO2
Environment Illinois, a Chicago-based environmental, released a report last week blasting America’s aging fleet of fossil fuelburning power plants.

Building peace at St. Agnes
The PeaceBuilders program promotes a positive environment by teaching students six principles: praise people, give up putdowns, seek wise people, notice hurts, right wrongs and help others. These principles are displayed in every classroom, and students recite them at the beginning of every school day.

Comcast may cede public access channel to city
Comcast already had a contract with the city to provide a public access channel, but they are not required to provide equipment, studio space or management services. Up until now, Comcast has provided those things “out of the goodness of their hearts,” station employee and producer Darrel Moore says wryly.

Killer flu hits Springfield
A few weeks ago, as I nursed my son through swine flu, I frequently thought about my greatgrandmother. She had lived in Athens, northwest of Springfield, and nursed her son during another flu pandemic 91 years ago. I felt such sympathy for her. Although the challenges of caring for our sons must have been similar, their outcomes were so different.

Springfield Choral Society sings for peace
“The text says point-blank, ‘Christmas take away from the blood and the war,’” van der Loo says. “It’s the essence of what I feel personally. I want everyone to come home safe to their respective homes — Germany, Korea, France, Italy, United States, Pakistan, anywhere.

Holiday Calendar
Find some holiday fun with this week’s compilation of Springfield area events and activities..

Community Wish List
Habitat for Humanity of Sangamon County is a community-driven nonprofit organization that develops working partnerships with local businesses, churches, community organizations and other individuals to build simple, decent and affordable housing for all people in need.

Top Book/Film Adaptations
This year, give them a great story told two ways. First, let them dive into a great read. Then, let them sit back and enjoy the show. Here are six of the best book/film adaptations of the past year that will have all the bookworms and movie buffs on your list thanking you twice.

Color your holiday classy
The inventor of the standard holiday redand-green color scheme was probably colorblind - no one with good vision would want to decorate with two colors opposite each other on the color wheel. Escaping color condemnation is tough when aisles are stuffed with fake green boughs and gleaming red plastic berries.

Swine dining
What’s the new foodstuff that America’s best chefs are swooning over, and putting on their menus in an astonishing array of variations? It’s not some newly discovered sea creature. It’s not some obscure vegetable or rare fruit. It’s something so old that it’s new again: pork.

Sly Fox one of the year’s best films
Based on the book by Roald Dahl, this dynamic film utilizes stop-motion animation, a dynamic realistic soundtrack and razor-sharp wit to create a rare film that succeeds in entertaining children and adults. It deals with themes each group can relate to while entertaining everyone concerned.

Movie times
PLEASE NOTE: Kerasotes listings are for Friday, Dec. 4 through Thursday, Dec. 10. Bracketed times are Sat. and Sun. matinees or Fri. and Sat. evening shows. All times are subject to change. For updates on Kerasotes films, call 1-800-FANDANGO. For reviews of other films, visit www.

A few things to do
On Thursday, be sure to schedule in a moment for a stroll through lovely downtown Springfield during DSI’s Holiday Walk. The delightful event opened on Wednesday, Dec. 2, and continues through Dec. 3, 9, 16 and 23 with plenty of free entertainment in and out of doors.

PUB CRAWL
subject to last-minute changes, so we suggest calling before attending the event..

BAND SPOTLIGHT
Making a splash into the local music market for the first time, The Stone and Biscuit Band debuts this weekend with a three-hour show at Broadway Nights, the former On Broadway night club.

THE CALENDAR
Stars from The Platters, Coasters, Drifters and Temptations Salute the Troops.

PARADE
Springfield Jaycees and Ansar Shrine Holiday Parade.

HOLIDAY
Want to see Christmas lights? Forget the car. Get lit up with holiday joy as you take a seasonal stroll through the zoo during December evening hours. Thousands of lights have been strung and the zoo’s paths are decorated in holiday splendor. Find unique Christmas presents at the gift shop or get a cup of hot chocolate if winter nips at you.

HISTORY
View the magnificent architecture of six huge Springfield homes, built in the1800s and early 1900s, decorated for the holiday season. Begin this year’s Lincoln Park Neighborhood Association Historic Home Tour at the Brinkerhoff House, an 1859 Victorian Italianate mansion located at 1500 N.

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 6th day of November, 2009 a Certificate of Ownership of business was filed in the Office of the County Clerk of Sangamon County, stating that DELORISE WALLACE MARCIA E.

NEWS QUIRKS
Two men, lacking masks when they broke into an apartment in Carroll, Iowa, used a Sharpie marker to draw them on. The Daily Times Herald reported that police, responding to a caller who saw two men with “painted faces” drive off, stopped a car after noticing Matthew McNelly, 23, and Joey Miller, 20, sporting the.

LOCAL BIZ DIRECTORY
Get your local biz in the IT Directory 13 weeks for $13 per week (up to 25 words) Call – 753-1724 classifieds@illinoistimes.com.

THE ADVICE GODDESS
I’ve been dating my boyfriend for three years. His wife of 30 years died six years ago, but he still calls her “my wife,” talked about her in the bedroom until I got mad and still mentions her constantly. When I got angry about that, he blew up and said he’d talk about her whenever and however he wants.