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Going on... and on
A while back – a long while back – I undertook to write a smallish book about a large topic, the history and culture of Illinois. I was certain that after more than 30 years spent reading, thinking and writing about Illinois in most of its aspects, it was a job I could do in my sleep.

Boycott cynicism and fear
Fear also still contaminates many of our public-policy decisions. Barry Glassner’s book, The Culture of Fear: Why Americans Are Afraid of the Wrong Things: Crime, Drugs, Minorities, Teen Moms, Killer Kids, Mutant Microbes, Plane Crashes, Road Rage, & So Much More,.

Speaking truth about power
A willingness to speak truth to power is an essential civic virtue for the well-being of a democratic-republic. Equally virtuous and essential, however, are those rare citizens willing to risk their personal well-being by standing up to speak truth about.

LETTERS
CRASH RATINGS I read with interest the recent account of the crash ratings in the daily newspaper. The new rating system stresses the severity of the crashes, which in some cases puts the improvement money to good use.

Rep. Genius, and a kickback scheme gone awry
Appointed state Rep. Derrick Smith, D-Chicago, hasn’t been in the House very long, but few would ever have picked him as a future legislative star. He stumbles badly during debates, isn’t well informed on the issues and has obviously had a lot of trouble getting his arms around his new job.

Buried
“It’s clear that there have been a number of withdrawals out of both of those funds for use by the cemetery in its operations,” corporation counsel Mark Cullen told the cemetery’s board of directors at a March 13 board meeting. “We do have a couple sizable holes.

Boycott cynicism and fear
First, I no longer donate money to national campaigns. I’m simply tired of paying for television advertising, especially since my wife and I canceled our subscription to cable television years ago. Instead, I donate my surplus resources locally to help my neighbors.

Bike racks on buses delayed
The initiative to place bike racks on SMTD buses began in September 2010, but due to the construction of a new SMTD transportation facility, which will house SMTD buses and provide space for maintenance work to the buses, the bike rack plans have been delayed.

The wild blue yonder
Not this time. Two days after Direct Air quit flying without notice, the airport board held an emergency meeting on March 14 and decided to go into the airline business, putting up $715,000 of public money to charter jets to make twice-a-week round trips to Fort Myers through April 28.

Centennial Park starts addition
The new development is a 20-acre area in the northwest corner of Centennial Park, which will feature a toddler’s playground, a 20-by-20 picnic shelter, a fitness station and environmental areas with wetlands, prairie, savanna and native tree plantings.

BOOK REVIEW | Mary Bohlen
Just when it is fashionable to bemoan the loss of bipartisanship in politics, along comes a book that waxes nostalgic for the days when legislators threw punches at each other. Former Illinois Senate President Philip J. Rock’s memoir, Nobody Calls Just to Say Hello,.

Elevating education
Four years ago, a report on education in Springfield revealed some difficult realities about the city’s public schools. The report highlighted declining test scores, poor attendance, low graduation rates and inadequate college preparation – problems shown to be even worse among African American students.

Elevating education
The district’s Instructional Leadership Team, composed of teachers from various schools, determines which skills are most needed at which schools, providing customized professional development district-wide. That includes topics like cultural awareness to help teachers related to students who may have different backgrounds.

A bloody good thing
Their name may be a little off-putting. And their exterior, orange streaked or mottled with vermilion and/or brownish purple, may bring to mind a nasty bruise rather than something good to eat. However, the first sight and taste of blood oranges’ flesh reveal why they’re so sought after.

Director nearly loses Games
For the uninitiated, and that would be many readers over 25 years of age, Collins’ novel takes place in the near future where the United States has been divided into 13 districts, a move precipitated by a rebellion that broke out after a cataclysmic war left the nation in tatters.

Metal, math, mandalas and Mini O’Beirne
Chris Hupp, host of Metal Mayhem Mondays on WQNA 88.3 FM and man in charge of major-ly making metal mighty, informed me of this event. On Friday, Stormspell Records recording act The Horde invades the Old 36 Inn in Riverton with an attack of Viking Thrash Metal.

BAND SPOTLIGHT | Lady Carole & Her Knights
On March 26, 2010, when Bruce Clark, proprietor of Bourbon Street, hosted Lady Carole & Her Knights, the official band began. But the seeds were sown years before when Carole sang and played keyboards as a young girl in school and church.

PUB CRAWL
Intricate Collapse, Coward’s Plea, Egypt The Crocodile, Cody Jones, Intricate Collapse, Negative 17.

DANCE | Gem of a journey
After 16 years, the internationally-acclaimed show Riverdance is hanging up its stepdancing shoes. Don’t miss the last dance in Springfield, March 25 at Sangamon Auditorium, UIS.

THE CALENDAR
whose daughter arrives from NY. 245- 1402. Jacksonville Theatre Guild, 210 W. College Ave, Jacksonville. SHG’s Spring Musical, Grease.

FILM | All the right moves
Sunday, March 25, is the Central Illinois premiere, and national tour kickoff, of the film Romanza.

SCIENCE | Star power
If spring has sprung, the University of Illinois Springfield has also opened its telescope apertures on the heavens for those in Springfield with a hankering to look closer at the stars and planets. The popular Friday Night Star Parties begins the last week in March and runs every Friday through April during clement weather.

THE CALENDAR
Gallery, on the square, Petersburg, 632-3216. Call for Artists.

THE CALENDAR
scooters. 502-6277, 971- 1036. Big Brothers Big Sisters of Illinois Capitol Region, 928 S. Spring St..

PUBLICNOTICES
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.