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A double shot of urban-type feel
The County Market’s potential shoppers were talking about Starbucks and a deli counter. A surer way to have a supermarket with an urban-type feel is to build an urban-type supermarket. The intersection of Second and Carpenter is smack in the heart of the city, officially part of Springfield’s “central area” as presently construed by planners.

Commemorating Springfield’s Lithuanians
Among those turn-of-the-century immigrants was my Lithuanian great aunt Marija Jomantiene, aka Mary Yamont, an impoverished 18-year-old farm girl who was mobbed as she arrived at the Springfield depot by Lithuanian miners looking for a wife. The year was 1902.

The stench of Bentonville spreads to Mexico – and back
The bottom line has always been THE line for Wal-Mart executives, and sinking to the ethical bottom to enhance that line has not only been tolerated, but legitimized as a proven path to executive promotion and riches.

LETTERS
NO POT OF GOLD I read with interest the article on the city infrastructure written by Bruce Rushton [see “Plan? What plan? Still no fix for city infrastructure,” May 3].

Smith may give us an embarrassing circus
Call it “Blagojevich Lite,” or whatever else you want, but it became pretty darned clear last week that state Rep. Derrick Smith’s attorneys are planning the same sort of mockery of the system that Rod Blagojevich’s legal team did during those dark days after the former governor’s arrest.

Attorney general questions Macoupin mine permit
St. Louis-based Foresight Energy plans to raise $300 million though an initial stock offering, the company announced last month. But regulators are raising questions about a key permit for the Macoupin County mine that produces about two million tons of coal a year.

How will retirements affect Springfield?
Retiring state workers means fewer people frequenting downtown businesses during lunch or after work. Terri Nelson, a bartender at Boone’s Saloon located at 301 W. Edwards, said between 30 and 50 state employees usually frequent the bar “about two or three days a week after work.

Lawmakers vote to keep supermax prison open
The Commission on Government Forecasting and Accountability (COGFA) met on May 1 to vote on several facility closures meant to save the state millions of dollars. Among the facilities on the chopping block is the supermaximum security Tamms Correctional Center, located at Tamms in southern Illinois.

Coal curriculum
Illinois is a coal state – the eighth-largest producer of coal in the nation at 33.2 million tons in 2010, according to the U.S. Department of Energy. The Illinois Geological Survey estimates Illinois coal holds more energy potential than all of Saudi Arabia’s and Kuwait’s oil reserves combined.

Should Illinois release old and costly inmates?
C-Number inmates are prisoners who were sentenced before 1978 to indeterminate sentences – prison terms that only specify a range of years the inmate must stay behind bars, such as being sentenced to serve 20 to 100 years in prison.

Write wingers
“As part of our mission to supply robust, far-reaching coverage of Statehouse and government news, Illinois Statehouse News encourages all Illinois news broadcasters, media organizations and citizen journalists to steal our stuff,” the news service says on its website.

Springfield history in old newspaper photos
It’s like a long forgotten, 80-year-old scrapbook of our city. It shows a bustling downtown crowded with men wearing fedoras and women in fur coats, a family brewery preparing for the onslaught of business after Prohibition, a swimming hole packed on a busy summer day, and many more scenes of daily life in Springfield between 1929 and 1935.

Growing up in the Cultural Revolution
I thought I knew the story of Wenguang Huang, who will be the commencement speaker at the University of Illinois Springfield May 12. After all, I’ve known Wen for 21 years, first as my student at UIS and later as a dear family friend.

Shadows too dim to see details
Knowing director Tim Burton’s penchant for quirky horror, it comes as no surprise that he was a fan of the show and he puts his passion for it on full display in his big-screen adaptation of the Dan Curtis cult classic.

Tiny bites of love for Mom
When I first made petit fours (the name comes from the French words for “small ovens”), what surprised me most was how easy they were to make. True, petit fours aren’t something that can be made in minutes. But the entire recipe is geared towards advanced preparation that can be assembled in stages.

BAND SPOTLIGHT | Javier Mendoza and Reis Kloeckener
These St. Louis performers are making a splash in the music business as young and ready up and comers. Reis made a quick transition from singing in church and school choirs to becoming a 2012 American Idol contestant. According to The Hollywood Gossip.

PUB CRAWL
Frank T Quintet Jazz Etc. Happy Hour.

The month of Maybes
On Friday night the Zach Radwine Trio performs from 5:30 to 7:30 at Robbie’s for the Uptown Friday Night show hosted by the Springfield Area Arts Council.

THEATER | Street smart
Another UIS Broadway Series takes place at Sangamon Auditorium, UIS, May 15 at 7:30 p.m. The contemporary musical, In the Heights,.

THE CALENDAR
Music, food. Illinois Building. $10, $1 samples. 836-9281. Illinois State Fairgrounds, 801 Sangamon Ave, 782- 8886..

THE CALENDAR
May 11-13, 7pm Fri, 7pm Sat, 3pm Sun, Ken Bradbury’s newest play presented by Lincoln Land Traveling Theatre. May 11, Centenary Methodist Church, May 12 Faith Lutheran, May 13 Grace Methodist. Freewill donations. Jacksonville..

RACE | Street feat
Becoming one of the most popular parties in Springfield, the Fat Ass 5K and Street Party fills downtown May 11-12. This is a race where winning is good, but enjoying yourself is even better. Stations are set up along the race route where participants can indulge in goodies such as donuts, ice cream and beer.

THE CALENDAR
Park District at its parks. Prizes. Coordinates on website May 21. 753-0700. Washington Park, South Grand and MacArthur..

THEATER | Madcap musical
Springfield Theatre Center presents a musical about Pippi, the stripper on the run, who is the new tenant at the exclusive Florida trailer park, Armadillo Acres. But she’s no ordinary tenant, and there are only laughs after Pippi comes between Dr. Phil-loving, agoraphobic Jeannie and her tollbooth collector husband.

FOOD | Plentiful produce
The Old Capitol Farmers Market opens for the season on three downtown blocks beginning May 16. Join the mayor, Downtown Springfield, Inc., St. John’s Hospital representatives and the Chamber of Commerce in a ribbon cutting ceremony at 10 a.m.

THE CALENDAR
Sixth and Monroe, outside Federal Building. All are welcome. 544-3997. Downtown Springfield..