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Steps toward a fear-less nation
First, we should demand that the Department of Homeland Security abolish its “Current Threat Level” Advisory System. It includes five warning levels (severe, high, elevated, guarded, and low). On Dec. 12, 2010, “The United States government’s national threat level is Elevated, or Yellow.

Stay with me
After 40 years, area tourism promoters still don’t have a compelling answer to the central question of their trade, which is, How ya gonnna bed ’em down in Springfield, after they’ve seen the Tomb? As I noted back in April (“The Presidential museum...

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Food for thought
In this joyous season, friends and family come together to cook, share and savor nature’s bounty. As we tuck into food and drink this year, we can be especially appreciative because – wow! – another scientific breakthrough has been made in food production.

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LETTERS
Have you ever wondered why Springfield is the only major city (pop. over 100,000) in the State of Illinois that still allows drive-up liquor window sales? Or how about the fact that someone who’s driving on a revoked driver’s license can still legally purchase liquor at a drive-up window? In other words, if “Bud B.

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Why Tim Davlin was a Statehouse favorite
Davlin was a regular at state events and built surprisingly strong relationships in the General Assembly and among statewide officials far beyond what an outsider might have thought possible when Davlin was first elected without any previous governmental experience.

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The church is a blessing
Mr. Houck came early to the Sangamon Valley while it was still a wilderness without many inhabitants. He came before the land was surveyed so his fields stretched from the big sycamore tree to the east, to the large cottonwood on the creek bank to the west.

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The starving arts
Fred Jarosz is a talker. To meet him, the executive director of the Hoogland Center for the Arts, and ask him about the health of the arts in Springfield is to be taken on a whirlwind aural tour of board meetings, donor outreach and Hoogland performances and workshops.

The starving arts
Arts Council and Illinois Symphony Orchestra offer similar reasoning in their lamentations over lost funding. Acting director Penny Wollan-Kriel says SAAC lost 45 percent of its state funding from 2007 to 2010.

The starving arts
Down the street from its Hoogland home base, the Prairie Art Alliance, a nonprofit visual artists’ association, this summer opened a second gallery at 221 South Sixth Street, Gallery II. “The H.D.

The starving arts
“A lot of times we think of the arts just as the arts, but they also bring so much more to a community in terms of economic development, including what the community offers in attracting new residents and new business to the community,” says the ISO’s Orthmann.

The starving arts
Arts for all Jarosz says the “ugliest misconception” in Springfield about the arts is the idea that they’re only accessible to or enjoyed by the well-to-do.

Iraq vets urge end to multiple deployments
Some 70 folks gathered at the home of Meg Evans and Peter Lazare in Springfield Sunday, Dec. 19, to hear members of Iraq Veterans Against the War speak, as well as enjoy music by local musicians. Participants read poems written by Iraq and Afghan War vets as well.

A bigger and better First Night
Sponsorships for this year’s alcohol-free arts event, which begins at 1 p.m. on Dec. 31 and runs through midnight, came in 28 percent ahead of last year’s donations to help boost the event budget from less than $25,000 to about $28,000.

A weekend of holiday movies
Though only 14 years old, Mattie Ross (Hailee Steinfeld) is nobody’s fool and has more sand than many men she encounters in Fort Smith, Ark., in 1880. There to settle the affairs surrounding the murder of her father, she hires Marshall Reuben Cogburn (Bridges) to help her track down the man responsible, Tom Chaney (Josh Brolin).

A weekend of holiday movies
Hallucinations, fever dreams and bouts of hysteria plague the young woman as she starts to see herself as a more sexually aggressive woman, thinks her reflection at times is that of Lily and begins to finally rebel against her mother in exploring the world outside their tiny apartment.

Make your holidays sparkle
Champagne from the top French producers is awesome: toasty, yeasty and elegant. It’s also expensive and something I can only rarely experience. Fortunately, there are lots of excellent sparkling wines from around the world that are delicious and much more affordable.

Holiday ruminations
Through a combination of feeling reflective at nearing another year’s end and the small selection of entertainment choices caused by Christmas coming on a Saturday I’m settling in for a long winter’s column on this, that and the other thing.

BAND SPOTLIGHT | Ben Bedford
In the last five years Ben Bedford went from being a guy playing open mics around town to a nationally known and highly respected folk singer of original music. He did it the old-fashioned way, by writing good songs, performing well and working hard to promote his music to the world outside of Springfield.

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

PUB CRAWL
Acoustic Celtic Music Session w/ Paddy’s Bargain.

HOLIDAY | Floral forest
Washington Park Botanical Garden is a peaceful and delightful place to seek refugee from the holiday bustle. Stroll through the domed conservatory and back room, warm and enclosed from the chill of winter outside. Feast your eyes upon the fine-looking displays of poinsettias and holiday decorations.

THE CALENDAR
Dates, times and locations are subject to last-minute changes, so we suggest calling before attending the event..

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THE CALENDAR
Under the Influence: Music that Inspires Expression Contest.

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THE CALENDAR
Mini O’Beirne Crisis Nursery Children’s Holiday Store.

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THE CALENDAR
Depression & Bipolar Support Alliance of Central Illinois.

VOLUNTEERING | Christmas compassion
Each year members and community volunteers at the First Church of the Brethen open their hearts a little wider and give of themselves on Christmas Day by preparing and delivering meals and holiday hellos to 200 fellow citizens who are alone and unable to leave their homes.

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THE CALENDAR
Sangamon Table Tennis Club (Ping Pong).

FOOD | Sharing bread
Several churches and organizations offer free meals to anyone who needs food on Christmas, is looking not to be alone or for any reason would like a hot feast on Christmas Day with others. In Springfield, Christmas Day Feast will be held at Broken Chains Church, 501 W.

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PUBLICNOTICES
IN THE CIRCUIT COURT OF THE SEV- ENTH JUDICIAL CIRCUIT, SANGAMON COUNTY, ILLINOIS Re: the marriage of LORI L. REED Petitioner Vs BENJAMIN REED Respondent Case No. 2010-D-784 NOTICE BY PUBLICATION Notice is given you BENJAMIN REED that LORI L.

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NEWSQUIRKS
Federal authorities said two masked gunmen greeted the owners of a New York City pizzeria arriving home after closing the store and ordered one of the owners to hand over a bag they believed held the day’s earnings. Instead, Drug Enforcement Administration agent Kristie Osswald reported, it “contained pizza dough.

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AMY ALKON
In middle school, I got a crush on “Sam,” but he wasn’t interested. In high school, he took me to prom, but only as friends when none of the other girls he asked said yes. I was jealous upon hearing he’d gotten married, but several years later, he called, said he was divorcing, was coming to town, and wanted to see me.

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