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Gathering nuts
In “Squabbling over the inheritance” (June 12), I lamented the fact that the Illinois State Historical Library, which has collected and preserved materials on the state’s political, social and religious history since 1889, has been starved of...

Will a new era restrain nationalism?
Eras of history are generally recognized only long after they start. But it might be that our world has just walked into a new era this last month as five rising nations formed The New Development Bank in Brazil. If so, this could represent either a fortuitous or an ominous portent for the future.

Can a $7 billion penalty be a good deal?
At last, went the storyline, the Justice Department brought down the hammer on one of the greed-headed Wall Street giants that are guilty of massive mortgage frauds that crashed our economy six years ago.

LETTERS
Despite all their professional training, two purported police officers not wearing required police uniforms appeared at the scene of a quality-of-life complaint wearing street bum attire, not uniforms.

Frerichs needs to up his game
“People have said to me,” Frerichs told a WBBM radio interviewer, “‘Wouldn’t it just be a lot more efficient if we just had one financial officer?’ And I’ve said yes, we could become very efficient, efficient like the city of Dixon, Illinois, who...

No man’s land
The unpaved parking area just south of the church is actually within the boundaries of Bunn Park, which Jefferis acknowledges might be problematic for a bank if a potential buyer wants a mortgage. The church otherwise has no off-street parking, which is tough for a building at the very end of a dead-end street.

Board member’s dogs attack
A member of the Sangamon County citizens advisory board on animal control has been repeatedly caught allowing unaltered dogs to run loose with no proof of rabies vaccination. At least one of her dogs may be declared dangerous following an unprovoked attack on a dog and a Springfield woman.

STOPPING SUMMER SLIDE
As Springfi eld kids return to school in August, many will be playing catch-up on their studies after a couple of months out of the classroom. But the Family Service Center has been working all summer to prevent the “summer slide,” the phenomenon in which kids forget what they learned the previous school year and have to relearn it.

GETTING BIBLICAL
Any doubt that all the feel-good advisory referendums on the fall ballot are more about the governor’s race than anything else were laid to rest this week when Gov.

Downhome Fest is all about the music
“Our idea was to gather up all these smaller, original bands and give them a chance to get up on the big stages, make some money and get their name out there,” says local musician Josh Catalano, explaining the rationale behind starting the Downhome...

When Lindbergh delivered airmail to Springfield
The first regular airmail service in the United States was inaugurated by the United States Post Office Department in 1918. Interest in a federal airmail service had begun as early as 1912, but it took the rapid development of aviation technology that occurred during World War I to make it a reality.

Guardians: Star Wars for a new generation
While this is a Marvel Studios production, the superheroes at its center are not what you would call first-string characters of the order of Iron Man or Captain America. No, these are more like tier four oddballs, the sorts you focus on after the mainstays and their substitutes and then their.

More recipes for my visiting veg-heads
Both Robbie and his almost two-year-old cousin, Madeline, enjoy foods that might seem unusual for most young children: salty sharp blue cheese and feta, olives, and the sour tastes of things such as lemon juice. When I mentioned this to an acquaintance he said, “It must be genetic.

BAND SPOTLIGHT | Captain Geech and the Shrimp Shack Shooters
Born in 2001 from an epiphany reached by J Bird (drums, lead vocals) after watching the 1996 Tom Hanks’ film That Thing You Do!,.

PUB CRAWL
Frank Trompeter Solo – Artist on the Plaza.

Down at Downhome
We fondly remember, while shaking our heads, the heady years of Lincolnfest-ering, when that misguided Frankenstein’s monster of a music festival went from fantastic to foolish in a few short but incredible years.

CAR SHOW | Wheel of a deal
Powerlight Abe Lincoln Supercruise and Car Show Spectacular begins Friday, Aug 1 with a car parade from Ace Hardware on Wabash Ave. to Quaker Steak and Lube on MacArthur. Afterwards, The Dark Knight.

THE CALENDAR
BOOKS & AUTHORS Poets in the Parlor: VLA Teen Writing Camp.

FESTIVAL | Huge hoopla
Decatur holds its annual downtown family street festival Aug. 1-3. If you’re not familiar with the Decatur Celebration – It’s huge! Everyone is certain to find something that will excite them. There’s a carnival; family night is Thursday, July 31, 4-11p.

MUSIC | New ensemble
Springfield has a new professional choral ensemble . Meet the Gloriana Chamber Choir at their inaugural concert on Sunday, Aug. 3 at First Presbyterian Church. “Long Live Fair Oriana: A Concert of English Choral Music from the Lifetimes of Queen Elizabeth I and Queen Elizabeth II” will feature Benjamin Britten’s choral dances from Gloriana.

THEATER | Creation stories
Read up on your creation stories. Genesis, The Musical.