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A caring economy would invest in children
We’re being told that fiscal responsibility requires big cuts in education, nutrition and health care for millions of children. This shortsighted and uncaring thinking is not only a nightmare for those directly affected; it is an imminent threat to America’s economic future.

Springfield visited
No doubt some members of the of the Springfield Diocesan Council of Catholic Women settled into their seats at the Centennial Auditorium in March 1949 looking forward to being instructed by their invited guest on the writers and converted Catholics G.

The Citizens United gang
A multimillionaire financier who was a top henchman in Bain Capital, Mitt Romney’s old outfit of corporate plunderers, Conard is currently riding with the small but fearsome Citizens United Gang, which has taken over presidential politics in our country.

LETTERS
WOMEN AGAINST REGISTRY Jerry Sandusky is at the center of the Penn State sex abuse scandal. Jerry Sandusky was not on any sex offender registry, which is the case in more than 95 percent of sexual offenses. [See “Reformers: six offender mandate would hurt Illinois,” by Patrick Yeagle, April 19.

Quiet before the Statehouse battle
That exchange pretty well sums up the current climate in the General Assembly. It’s very quiet. Too quiet.

Where would Jesus park?
Last Friday afternoon, 10 of the 19 cars parked on Park Avenue in the block between Governor and Monroe streets, where Neuman lives, had SHG placards attached to rearview mirrors. The parallel-parked cars effectively turned the street into a one-lane thoroughfare.

IRISH DANCE JUDGE
“I am incredibly honored to have been selected as a member of this judging panel,” Stidham said. “My fellow adjudicators have decades of study and education in Irish dance, as I do, but more importantly, we all love this cultural tradition and wish to see it continue to grow and develop worldwide.

PERFORM FOR PICNIC
“Live music and dancing, tasty food fresh from the grill, a children’s Race Unity Art contest, and the opportunity to make new friends – these are just a few of the highlights planned for June 10 at Southwind Park,” said Delores Martin, one of the picnic organizers.

Plenty of room at the inn
The center, which can house as many as 58 detainees, has never been close to full. The county shut down a 24-bed wing in 2009, leaving one 24-bed wing to hold kids between 10 and 21, with the older detainees subject to detention if they committed an offense while 17 or younger.

Children’s library is more than books
“This library presents a chance for kids to get off the streets and work with active, caring volunteers who want to give the kids as much one-on-one time as possible,” says Rachel Kocis, the coordinator of the library.

Nature’s friends
Vern LaGesse, executive director of Friends of the Sangamon Valley, said the group had heard there were conversations going on about a developer building a hotel on the land, so the members of FOSV asked the developer how much it would cost them to buy the eight acres from him.

Incarcerated but innocent
“When I first shook his hand, he was still in disbelief,” says Steven Schott, a third-year law student at the University of Illinois Urbana- Champaign.

Clutter considers his work with IIP to be among his greatest achievements.
“When the average citizen reads about injustice … it erodes our faith and confidence in the system and makes us cynical,” Hanlon says. “When they see justice being done, that type of thing is important to placing faith back in system.

Artful artichokes
Fresh artichokes aren’t local, even though recently cultivars have been developed for home gardeners outside the Mediterraneantype climate that’s their natural habitat (my attempts at artichoke-growing have been dismal at best).

Lucky tripped up by Sparks
It’s picture perfect and there’s even a wise mother figure (Blythe Danner) on hand to deliver sage advice in a wry manner, which is only cute if you’re over 65 years of age. Any younger and you’re likely to get punched in the nose. That reminds me that there’s a bully.

Big on the Big Band
While lollygagging somewhere recently I ran into longtime Springfieldian and self-proclaimed “jazz junkie” Byrd Davis. We talked about the upcoming Spring Jazz Brunch (Sunday, April 29, 11 a.m. to 3 p.m., K of C Hall on Meadowbrook, 217-414-2955) and the history of jazz performance during Byrd’s stay in the capital city.

BAND SPOTLIGHT | Two Trick Pony
Using Elvis Presley, Patsy Cline, Johnny Cash, Chuck Berry, the Beatles, the Crystals and Buddy Holly from days of yore, plus a mishmash of more modern cuts from the Ramones and the Misfits, Two Trick Pony forges a special place in the Springfield music scene by converting classic tunes into fuzz guitar-driven, punkish sounding anthems.

PUB CARWL
Sworn In, Kingmaker, Dreams May Fall, Heavyarms, The Dread Corsair, Project Emira.

MUSIC | Poetic spellbinder
Some music you like instantly at first listen. Such is the sound and lyrics of Jeffrey Foucault. Check it out for yourself on his website. Better yet, hear Foucault in person Saturday, Apr. 28 at the Hoogland Center for the Arts. A blend of intoxicating country/folk with the occasional Southern rock-Lynyrd Skynyrd twist, Foucault is the real deal.

THE CALENDAR
BOOKS & AUTHORS Brown Bag Book Discussion Series.

DANCE | Modern marvels
Modern dance troop, Pilobolus turns Sangamon Auditorium, UIS upside down, and all around, with usual and spectacular movements Sunday, April 29.

THE CALENDAR
Students of the Strawn Show. Opening reception May 5, 6-8 p.m. David Strawn Art Gallery, 331 W. College Ave, Jacksonville, 243-9390. Juried Student Art Show.

THE CALENDAR
American Heart Association and J. Parsons Fashion Show.

ENVIRONMENT | Go global
Were you tucked inside your house on Earth Day? Show this ole globe you give a care and head out this Saturday, April 28 to Erin’s Pavilion at Southwind Park for the Earth Awareness Fair. You and your family will learn a wealth of environmental information from numerous vendors.

THE CALENDAR
Cancer Institute, 315 W. Carpenter, 217-545-7133. Married. . . with His Children.

ART | Creativity uncovered
Breath in fresh air and creativity at Lincoln Memorial Garden at its popular Art in the Garden Saturday, Apr. 28 from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. The day includes artists painting who welcome visitors to chat and watch them in action along the winding trails.

PUBLICNOTICES
CIRCUIT COURT OF THE SEVENTH JUDI- CIAL CIRCUIT SANGAMON COUNTY, ILLINOIS ESTATE OF: MARILYN R. GARVEY, Deceased No.2012-P-170 CLAIM NOTICE Notice is given of the death of Marilyn R. Garvey. Letters of office were issued on April 5, 2012 to Holly Siemert, 232 County Road 2290, Cleveland, TX 77327 and Cynthia L.