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10th Street is the solution for a transit center
In last week’s Guestwork, environmentalist Will Reynolds argued that Third Street would be a better location for a multimodal transit center than 10th Street [see “Third Street better for transit center,” Sept. 13]. In response, Lou Dixon of the Greater Springfield Chamber of Commerce and Jeff Wilday of Downtown Springfield, Inc.

Invisible walls
I was a newspaper publisher at the age of 24. My aptitude for the job can be judged by the fact that the column you are reading appears in a newspaper that is not published by me. I published two newspapers by the age of 30 and both failed. New newspapers usually do.

Editor’s note
A group of volunteers gathered at the Family Service Center on Vine Street to be trained for the COMPASS after-school program for homeless kids that starts this week.

Romney’s Hamm-handed energy policy
He recently unveiled his energy policy, for example, in Hobbs, N.M., rather than in ExxonMobil’s boardroom, which is the only place his oil-soaked proposal would actually receive genuine, full-throated huzzahs. But a group of hip-hip-hooraying fat-cats in suits is not quite the down-home, regular-guy image that Mr.

LETTERS
Rodney Davis is so “pro Wall Street” that he advocates handing over Social Security tax funds to the same Wall Street investors, financiers and bankers who stole hundreds of billions of dollars from the treasury and caused the current recession. He hides this, claiming he will “not change benefits for current beneficiaries.

Teachers union shows who’s boss
For several months, beginning in late 2010, teachers union lobbyists warned that teachers went out on strike a whole lot more back in the days when they were prohibited by law from striking than in the years since they had gained the statutory right to strike.

UNION BAD, GATEHOUSE GOOD
A newsroom election conducted under the auspices of the National Labor Relations Board has been set for Oct. 12, and GateHouse in a flier distributed to employees this week warned that bad things could happen if they vote to form a union.

BAG BATTLE
Manufacturers of plastic shopping bags are fighting for their lives in the Illinois Statehouse, following Gov. Pat Quinn’s veto of a bill that would have preempted bag bans.

Downtown prepares for life without TIF
Promoters of downtown Springfield are looking toward the day when the area’s tax-increment financing district is scheduled to dissolve, leaving the city’s core without a dedicated funding source for projects aimed at improving livability and promoting economic development.

Ag experts: Farm bill delay endangers food supply
The Democrat-controlled U.S. Senate passed a so-called “Farm Bill” in June, while the Republican-controlled U.S. House sits on a separate version of the bill.

Agreement paves way for juvenile justice reforms
The American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) of Illinois and the Illinois Department of Juvenile Justice settled a lawsuit demanding improvements to safety, services and treatment for the roughly 1,000 youth incarcerated in state facilities. The settlement resulted in a consent decree that means the two sides will work together on reforms.

DiCenso tries to unseat battle-scarred Libri
The setbacks are offset by strong showings at the polls to retain the circuit clerk’s office he won in 1996 after four years as county auditor. In 2008, Libri soundly beat Democrat Cecilia Tumulty, Springfield city clerk, who had money, name familiarity and Barack Obama’s coattails.

Backyard biodiversity
Early in the 20th century, Jens Jensen, the landscape designer of Springfield’s Lincoln Memorial Garden, and groups such as the Friends of Our Native Landscape and The Prairie Club, began extolling the aesthetic appeal of local plant species, the beauty they exhibit when flourishing in their native surroundings.

Fall 2012 home and garden events calendar
Fall 2012 home and garden events calendar.

Fall gardening activites
Plant spring-flowering bulbs such as daffodils, tulips, crocus and hyacinths as soon as possible to allow plenty of time for root development. Wait until after the ground cools to about 60 degrees Fahrenheit, usually after the first frost.

Soil test this fall
Testing the soil in a vegetable garden is quickly done, and the benefits are long-term. University of Illinois Extension horticulture educator Richard Hentschel said that if the soil is right, gardeners should be able to produce fresh vegetables all season long.

Cool color from cabbages and kales
“Hot temperatures, dry soils, pots that needed watering two or three times a day, and flowers that just did not look their best,” said Greg Stack. “Would you look your best if you had to put up with the wilting heat of 2012? Well, maybe there is time to recover and get some cool color into the garden.

Give your trees a good drink
While our landscapes received a good drink of water in September, we need more rain. The most important investment in your landscape is trees and shrubs. Trees and shrubs entering winter without adequate soil and tissue moisture become more susceptible to low temperature injury or rapid fluctuations between warm and cold.

Conserve water with rain barrels
One way to reduce outdoor water usage and conserve water is to collect rainwater. A rain barrel is a system that collects and stores rainwater. A typical half-inch rainfall will fill a 55-gallon barrel. It is estimated that a 55gallon rain barrel can save about 1,300 gallons of water during the summer.

Seven inexpensive ways to update a home now
Often buying a home opens up a bottomless pit of opportunities for projects and improvements. While some homeowners engage in different repairs and fix-ups out of necessity, many others like to freshen up their spaces out of personal preference instead of need.

Financing a home improvement project
There are no certainties in the real estate markets. Though statistics suggest marked improvement in home sales over just a few months ago, many homeowners remain leery about selling their home to try to move up to something bigger and better.

Be energywise and economize. Winterize.
A good place to start reducing your carbon footprint is at home. If you make a few tracks around the house in areas you rarely tread, you might be surprised at what you find and how much you can save on your heating bill this winter. Hidden openings could be bleeding warm air from your home on the coldest days.

Pumpkin, savory
What comes to mind when you think of eating pumpkin? If you’re like most Americans, your answer will almost certainly be pumpkin pie. Of course there will always be a few nonconformists who’ll vote for pumpkin cheesecake, pumpkin muffins or pumpkin milkshakes.

A joy to see Eastwood in Trouble
If you’ve followed Clint Eastwood’s career behind the camera, you’ll find that he’s an intensely loyal collaborator. He works with the same crew from one picture to the next and you’d be hard-pressed to read anything negative about him as far as his film career is concerned.

Feeling like fall
First I’d like to thank the folks at Penny Lane and all who helped organize the 18th annual Jerry Garcia Tribute at Douglas Park last Sunday. The Raouligans and I were honored to play along with Dennis Maberry’s Rhythm Spirit and Perfunctory This Band.

BAND SPOTLIGHT | Mathien
Began in Carbondale and molded in Chicago, the hard driving, pop-rock, soul-funk band Mathien comes back to town on the opening weekend for Donnie’s Homespun nightclub in the Vinegar Hill Mall.

PUB CRAWL
Dates, times and locations are subject to change, so we suggest calling before attending an event..

The poetry of longevity
Right here in Springfield, Haenig Electric Company, Inc. received a centennial award. The business began in 1904 as an electrical repair business by Albert and John Haenig. The shop used to be at 314 S. Fourth St., downtown. Today, under the ownership of Debbie and Mike Marsaglia since 1980, the company has expanded to 2951 Stanton Ave.

FESTIVAL | Dazzling dynamos
The International Route 66 Mother Road Festival is one of the largest festivals to take downtown by storm. More than 1,000 vintage vehicles and 80,000 spectators will roll into the Old Capitol complex for the weekend.

THE CALENDAR
Dates, times and locations are subject to last-minute changes, so we suggest calling before attending events..

THE CALENDAR
Illinois Barbershop Quartet and Chorus Competition.

MUSIC | Country Star
With a charismatic smile and a fine voice that hits the highs and the lows just right, he’ll be knocking your socks off with some good ole country music. Young’s last five singles went to #1 on country radio, with “Tomorrow,” “Voices” and “You” certified Gold by the RIAA.

THE CALENDAR
Citizens Club of Springfield Policy Breakfast.

FESTIVAL | Like old times
Clayville Fall Festival offers a weekend of history, music and fun for the family. Artisans and craftsmen demonstrate pottery making, coopering, quilting, outdoor cooking, willow furniture making, chair caning, corn milling, dulcimer making and more. Reenactors of the early 1800s display scenes from the past.

MUSIC | Sizzling Sixties
The Midtown Men perform Sept. 22 at Sangamon Auditorium, UIS, as part of the Broadway Series..