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Harvesting electricity
The American Wind Energy Corp. in December announced its intention to plant 25,000 acres in western Sangamon County with wind turbines, beginning in 2011. While county officials busy themselves determining just how many votes it will cost them to approve the firm’s new Meridian Wind Farm, we will sit back and take in the larger view.

Selling a city’s soul — for chicken scratch
Fire hydrants deserve more respect. They are utilitarian and ubiquitous icons of America’s urban landscape, yet they’re rarely noticed by anyone but dogs — who give them no respect whatsoever.

technokids poem #2
wyatt, seven, sequestered (by choice) in the large closet under the front stairs cell-phones his mother four times with different instructions on how he wants his sandwich prepared then phones the kitchen again to ask why it’s taking so long.

LETTERS
Re: the texting ban [see “Texting ban more bark than bite” Jan. 7], they will need to ban eating, smoking, hygiene (makeup, shaving etc.) or any other distraction that can cause an accident when performed while driving.

Quinn’s State of the State lacks the “real meat”
“The Governor, at the beginning of each annual session of the General Assembly and at the close of his term of office, shall report to the General Assembly on the condition of the State and recommend such measures as he deems desirable.” — Illinois Constitution.

YOU GOT SERVED!
Though the Day of Service has passed, it’s not too late to do some good. The Serve Illinois Commission maintains an online list of volunteer opportunities statewide, searchable by location and area of interest. The Web site, serve.illinois.gov, boasts 60,000 opportunities, including chances to sponsor a blood drive, read to children or plant trees.

TEA PARTY
Michael Higgins of Maldaner’s, David Radwine of Sangamo Club, Caitie Barker of Caitie Girls’ and Patrick Groth of Incredibly Delicious will join forces to cater A High Tea at 3 p.m. on Sunday, Jan. 24, and on Sunday, Jan. 31, at Temple Israel, 1140 W. Governor St.

MacArthur makeover
The firm had worked on both new and old corridors in the Chicago area, as well as in Indiana and Wisconsin, but its vice president says they were especially attracted to the chance to shape and unify one of the capital city’s busiest, but unkempt streets.

COFFER FILTER
After last week’s 7.0 earthquake in Haiti, people from around the world have answered the devastated country’s desperate plea for food, water and medical supplies. Community organizations, schools and even local businesses like Springfield’s Grab-a-Java still continue to join the cause.

Community colleges get “green”
Bert Jacobson, project director for ICCSN and dean for sustainability and planning at Kankakee Community College, says the grant money will build infrastructure, help ICCSN hire additional staff and expand 14 sustainability centers like the one at Lincoln Land.

The man who would be senator
We meet at a trendy little café on Main Street in Peoria on a cold, sunny Monday afternoon. State Treasurer Alexi Giannoulias is on the campaign trail, and he has agreed to meet me to talk about his run for U.S. Senate. He smiles widely as he thrusts his hand out to meet mine in a firm, confident handshake.

RealCuisine Recipe
When I want to pull out all the stops, I make my own pasta, rolling it into sheets and parboiling them. For less momentous occasions, I’m more than happy to use no-boil lasagna noodles. They work exceptionally well — far better, in fact, than the traditional Italian- American ridged lasagna noodles with curly edges that require advance cooking.

The basics of Bologna
When I first made lasagna, I used a recipe that called for a tomato sauce to which was added previously cooked and crumbled meatballs and sausage. Four cheeses — Parmesan, mozzarella, ricotta and something called “white American” — were included, as well as a cup and a half of butter.

RealCuisine Recipe
Sauté the onion and garlic in the olive oil over medium heat in a heavy Dutch oven until the vegetables are softened and lightly browned. Add the thyme or other herbs and cook another couple of minutes. Add the tomatoes and their juices, crushing them with your hands.

RealCuisine Recipe
This is one of those classics that has as many variations as there are cooks who make it. After much experimentation, I settled on the following. It’s not difficult, but it does take some time, so I almost always make double or triple batches to freeze.

The Lovely Bones
Having seen Jackson’s film, it’s hard to imagine what all the consternation is about. Horrific, heartbreaking, ultimately redemptive and gripping throughout, the director’s interpretation of Sebold’s book is spot on in capturing the magic of the novel, as well as the terror that propels young Susie Salmon (Saoirse Ronan) on her unique journey.

Movie times
PLEASE NOTE: Kerasotes listings are for Friday, Jan. 22 through Thursday, Jan. 28. Bracketed show times are Saturday, Sunday only matinees or Friday, Saturday only late shows. All times are subject to change. For updates on Kerasotes films, call 1-800- FANDANGO.

Ragged Jack rolls on
When Lyman Ellerman sings “life is a wheel, let it roll, let it roll, let it roll,” you know he means it in his heart and soul. The song is the title track from a new CD recorded in Nashville last fall by Ellerman’s group Ragged Jack, available to the public for the first time Saturday (Jan.

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

BAND SPOTLIGHT
A year ago, Sarah Borges and the Broken Singles became the talk of the town after a bang-up performance at the Bedrock 66 Live! concert series presented by WUIS at the Hoogland Center for the Arts and sponsored by E F Distributors.

CHILDREN
Ralph’s World bops into the capital city Saturday with an assortment of fun songs and a good time for you and your family.

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

THEATER
Middle-class gal Sally Bowles from Chelsea, London, works as a singer at Berlin’s seedy Kit-Kat Club in 1929, trying her best to live the decadent life that the city is known for. In comes new lover Cliff Bradshaw, a young American writer, colorful boarding house characters, a pregnancy and Nazism.

HEALTH
SIU Medical School offers the public a fiveweek series of 10 presentations by SIU faculty physicians for only $10. What a deal to learn more about breast cancer, childhood obesity, chronic diseases, colon cancer, health care reform, influenza, preventive medicine, and new treatments for depression, infertility and stroke.

MUSIC
Springfield Classical Guitar Society ‘s current concert season resumes with a performance by Angelo Favis. Favis has won several international and national solo competitions, taught master classes in New York, Ohio and the Philippines, and is currently assistant professor of guitar at Illinois State University.

WORKSHOPS
Promote your class, workshop or fundraiser here. Up to 30 words $10 per week; additional words .35 per word, per week. Contact your display ad rep OR email your ad (and contact info) to cenlow@illinoistimes.com.

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 23rd day of December, 2009 a Certificate of Ownership of business was filed in the Office of the County Clerk of...

THE ADVICE GODDESS
I left my husband for a co-worker I was having an affair with, and accidentally got pregnant. He wasn’t thrilled, but manned up and married me. Sex soon dried up. We haven’t had it for two years! He never hugs me, never says he loves me, I kissed him and he recoiled, saying I was “in his space.

FIND LOCAL BIZ
Promote your biz in print and online Call Nan for details - 753-2226 x129.

NEWS QUIRKS
Massachusetts State Police who stopped Francis Viliar, 36, for speeding said he showed troopers a driver’s license that had the name Luis Gomez, but a different signature. When they asked him his birth date, he failed six times to match the one on the license, prompting his arrest.