Page 1

There goes the neighborhood
Buildings are like people. Even when they get too old and decrepit to work, their examples can still teach. Something like 100 buildings from the Lincoln era are thought to still stand in Springfield.

Mayor falls short on promise to hire minority firefighters
When the top brass of the Springfield Fire Department filed in and took their seats before the alderman to present their budget last week, something struck me about their presence. Within seconds, I realized my senses and sensibilities were awash in whiteness.

What’s in your iPhone?
Early last year, during an intimate chat and chew dinner with some Silicon Valley hightech barons, President Barack Obama posed a question to Steve Jobs, baron of the Apple empire: “What would it take to make iPhones in the United States?” Good...

I thought that true conservatives oppose nanny-state policies.
Visitors to downtown will find hardworking business owners who are unique, successful, and working to renovate and improve their space. They will see community beautification projects that have taken shape through streetscaping and renovation of the Amtrak station.

Mayor falls short on promise to hire minority firefighters
“My goal is to have both a police and fire department that is reflective of the community,” Houston said. “In my mind, the way you’re going to make that happen is 25 percent of our hires should be minorities until we have a representation that reflects the community.

Quinn outlines priorities for pension reform
The governor said pension reform negotiations, which have dragged on for well over a year, are in need of a fresh start. Republican Leader Cross’ reform proposal raises employee pension contributions in order to force public employees into either a lower-cost system or to a 401(k)-style plan.

Bill aims to stop copper and scrap metal thieves
House Bill 3825, which was originally filed in October 2011 before being amended, is a bill designed to make it harder for thieves of copper and scrap metals to sell the stolen goods to recyclable metal dealers, while also placing responsibility on the metal dealers to keep accurate records of all purchases of recyclable metals.

RESALE FOR RELIEF
Now you can surf for second-hand deals in your undies and help make a difference in Springfield at the same time. M.E.R.C.Y. Communities, which provides housing and supporting services for homeless women and their at-risk children in the Springfield area, has launched an online resale shop featuring furniture and miscellaneous home furnishings.

INMATE INTERVENTION
More than half of all prison inmates in Illinois will go back to prison within a year of being released. That’s a sobering thought, but here’s some good news: 92 percent of parolees served by Springfieldbased mission Tower of Refuge stay out of prison after release.

Healthy exchange
As Illinois and other states rush to implement federal health insurance reforms, consumer advocates say lawmakers shouldn’t allow insurers to make all the decisions.

Smart walk
Combs, who is president of the Enos Park Neighborhood Improvement Association in Springfield, admits he’s still a bit perplexed by the shiny new device that replaced his old flip phone.

Springfield goes to Washington
The U.S. House will likely vote on a fiveyear transportation bill this month, which could increase the number of transportationrelated jobs for minorities and women in Springfield.

Parents say DCFS leaves them in the dark
Tammy Herstad feels like a failure. A mother of three adopted sons and one biological daughter in the Chicago suburb of Bartlett, Herstad spends much of her time worrying about her adopted son, Adam.

Who are we adopting?
“I’m bitter and angry at the way DCFS treated me and my son, making all these promises and not carrying forth any of them,” Long says. She notes that R.L. tried three times to get her in trouble with DCFS by falsely reporting abuse. All three investigations came back unfounded, Long says.

Who am I adopting?
“We have to keep in mind that both the child and biological parents have a legal right to privacy,” he says. “We can only begin to give out this kind of information when a foster parent expresses interest in a child and begins to become involved in the child’s life.

Maple syrup time
Then drops began landing on our arms, and Ashley touched her tongue to one. “It’s kind of sweet!” she said. Of course – the sap was flowing. When we moved into our old farmhouse, there were 22 sugar maples on our 2.5 acres. The trees weren’t an unalloyed pleasure; there was little space on our wooded lot for the garden we wanted.

Actors overcome lapses in Safe House logic
However, he gets the opportunity to do just that when in walks legendary spy Tobin Frost (Denzel Washington), an operative who dropped out of sight a decade ago and has been rumored to be selling secrets and other intel to the highest bidder.

Doings around town and elsewhere
Continuing my travels this week, I’m writing in Flagstaff, Ariz. and then heading to Pagosa Springs, Colo. Adventures abound from powerful poetry readings at the Mineshaft Tavern in Madrid, N.M. to stellar music happening at the Low Spirits in Albuquerque as creative folks gathered last weekend to pay tribute to the work of Kell Robertson.

BAND SPOTLIGHT | Josh Catalano and The Dirty Thoughts
How many bands can one guy have? For Josh Catalano, the answer may be in the infinite stars above. From the long gone days of Mugshot and currently of the Damwell Betters and Lazer Dudes, the prolific songwriter and unabashed front man continues a...

PUB CRAWL
Cowards Plea, The Consumption, Emperor Norton, Handful of Zygotes, Elyse.

THE CALENDAR
Pondicherry Lodge/ Sherlock Holmes Society.

DANCE | Colombian distinction
The time recently changed on this performance to 7 p.m., but day or night the show will still amaze you as the Ballet Folklorico de Antioquia takes to the stage at Sangamon Auditorium, UIS Sunday, Feb. 19. On their first U.S.

THEATER | Abe’s babes
Springfield Theatre Center presents the presentational-style play, Heritage,.

THE CALENDAR
Benefits GROW in Illinois. Bennigan’s, 700 E. Adams, 331- 5199..

MUSIC | Song and story
The Illinois Central Blues Club and Illinois State Museum host a free program, History of the Blues, at the museum on Sunday, Feb. 19, in recognition of Black History Month. Blues aficionado Fernando Jones and his band, My Band, will play and talk about the history of the genre.

THEATER | Crack up
The Less is More Independent Theatre performs the screwball caper Den of Thieves.

THE CALENDAR
More events, more details in our online calendar at illinoistimes.com..

PUBLIC NOTICES
IN THE CIRCUIT COURT OF THE SEVENTH JUDICIAL CIRCUIT SANGAMON COUNTY, ILLINOIS In the Matter of the Estate of Mary Gladys Goldstein, Deceased. No.: 2012-P-37 NOTICE TO HEIRS AND NOTICE BY PUBLICATION OF CLAIM DATE Notice is given of the death of MARY GLADYS GOLDSTEIN, of Springfield, Illinois.