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Window panes and the state’s fiscal pain
I remember the Taylor place. The rest of the crew were putting insulated siding on the old tenant house. It was for me to paint the windows. They were six-over-six double-hung sash with twelve 14-inch by 16-inch panes of glass. Because of the recent war and the shortages, they hadn’t been painted for several years.

The Cadillac Queen drives again
Readers who were around back when Ronald Reagan was just another lying politician and not yet a saint will remember the Cadillac Queen.

The Keystone XL flim-flam
For Rep. Allen West, the skyrocketing price of gasoline is not just a policy matter, it’s a personal pocketbook issue. The Florida teaparty Republican (who, of course, blames President Obama for the increase) recently posted a message on Facebook wailing that it’s now costing him $70 to fill his Hummer H3.

LETTERS
GUN GRIPE It is now confirmed our legislators are on meth! The actions of the Illinois House Executive Committee by approving the proposal for handgun registry by Chicago’s mayor seems to point in that direction. This is not yet law, but hopefully the main body will put this proposal into the round file where it belongs.

Window panes and the state’s fiscal pain
The buildings were probably built in the 1950s with all the current methods and engineering of the time, but now it is 60 years later. With the changing economies of scale it would cost more now to paint around the 2,000 window panes than the building is worth.

Illinois lawmakers in for unpleasant budget experience
The Senate Democrats wanted to spend more money, but were eventually stymied by the House’s revenue estimates. There was just no way around the problem.

BACK HOME AGAIN
CAP What do you do after spending CITY nearly a dozen years behind bars for a crime you didn’t commit? You go to California Pizza Kitchen and get a pie with the works. That’s what Jonathon Moore did on Tuesday after a Kane County judge vacated his murder conviction with the blessing of prosecutors.

End of the line?
Gov. Pat Quinn says he wants to shut down Tamms, the state’s supermax prison about 100 miles north of the Kentucky border. The halffull prison where inmates are locked down 23 hours a day in solitary confinement is just too expensive, the governor says.

SPRINGFIELD ON SOUL
After selling 112 million copies in 40 languages, the popular Chicken Soup for the Soul book series is a household name. And soon, two Springfield authors will appear in the latest installment: Chicken Soup for the Soul: Family Caregivers, due out March 13.

Bullish on Springfield
In addition to the Bressmer building, Stone’s group has also purchased the Iles Park Place complex at South Sixth and Ash streets that includes five buildings, all empty, and a building at 525 W. Jefferson Ave. now occupied by the Illinois Department of Public Health.

Power company generates questions
During federal court testimony last week in the trial of Oklahoma’s former senate president pro tem Michael Morgan, Nebraska-based power company Tenaska was identified as the firm that allegedly paid Morgan $5,000 a month for four years to help gain approval for a new power plant in Oklahoma.

Kitchen of dreams
Walking into Lincoln Land Community College’s new Culinary Institute for the first time is an awesome, even jaw-dropping experience, especially for anyone in the food business. Located in LLCC’s spanking-new Workforce Careers Center, it’s a food professional’s dream.

Kitchen of dreams
Down a hallway lined with supply pantries, staff office space and refrigerated and freezer walk-ins is the baking and pastry kitchen. It’s as spacious as the food production kitchen and also has student work counters and monitors on three sides of the room.

Kitchen of dreams
Perry and Almengor, her baking/pastry counterpart, are the heart of LLCC’s Culinary Institute teaching staff. But they have great in-class support from experienced assistants such as Terri Branham, Nina Rossini, and Ryan Lewis, who, along with Perry and Almengor, provide critical handson help and demonstration of proper technique in each class.

Not your grandfather’s John Carter
It’s been noted that no other character has been stuck in Hollywood’s development hell longer than Edgar Rice Burrough’s John Carter. First appearing in the author’s pulp serial “A Princess of Mars,” animator Bob Clampett of Looney Tunes had approached the author in 1931 to propose that his story be adapted into a full-length animated feature.

Pro chefs’ good eats
Denise Perry’s Grilled Salmon with Tomato Olive Relish “I often prepare this salmon and its fresh relish topping in summer when I don’t want to turn on my stove! The relish is bright and flavorful, cuts the salmon’s richness nicely, and uses produce that you may have growing in your garden.

PUB CRAWL
Strangers Now, False Light, Floodlights, Fiends.

BAND SPOTLIGHT | The Rockin’ Johnny Band
Originally from South Carolina, a young John Burgin went to the Windy City to study at the prestigious University of Chicago in the early 90s and ending up learning at the equally important reality school of blues, playing with some of the elder statesmen of the genre.

Blues news
Who knows how these things happen – and frankly, my dear, who cares – but this weekend, the blues make an impressive showing in Springfield.

THE CALENDAR
Mar 10, 8pm, Features original members from the West End run, with amazing favorite moments and songs with a few new twists and moves. Sangamon Auditorium, UIS, 1 University Plaza, 217- 206-6160, 800-207-6960..

CONTEST | Hunks of burning love
Fifteen Elvis impersonators bring the magic and song of the King of Rock ’n’ Roll to the downtown Springfield Hilton March 9-10. With thousands of dollars in prize money at stake, the soiree promises to be a weekend of fierce competition and smoking, energetic entertainment.

THEATER | Suited soul singers
The All New Original Tribute to the Blues Brothers,.

THE CALENDAR
Midwest Tribute to the King: Elvis Presley Competition.

ART | Creative cluster
Ask anyone with a creative neuron in their noodle or an appreciation for spectacular art and the place to be Saturday night is The Pharmacy, at its second location, 1022 S. Pasfield, two blocks north of The Pharmacy studio.

THE CALENDAR
Camp Care-a-Lot, United Cerebral Palsey, Pioneer Shoe Program for Children. 787-2882. Little Flower School Activity Center (south of school), Stevenson Dr..

PUBLIC NOTICES
IN THE CIRCUIT COURT FOR THE SEV- ENTH JUDICIAL CIRCUIT SANGAMON COUNTY, ILLINOIS IN THE MATTER OF THE ESTATE OF CAROLYN ANN WILLBANKS, Deceased NO. 2012-P-00067 DEATH AND CLAIM NOTICE Notice is given to claimants of the Estate of Carolyn Ann Willbanks, Deceased.