Page 1

Adam’s off ox
One of the quainter rituals of any campaign, along with “debates,” is the newspaper editorial endorsement.

November’s elections won’t resolve much
The Congress that recessed until after the elections makes the 80th – the one that Harry Truman blasted as “do-nothing” – look like a paragon of productivity. This year’s members did manage to avoid a shutdown, but that’s about all. Congressional leaders spent the better part of the year avoiding tough votes.

Marriott’s shameful hotel tipping scam
As the hardworking housekeepers for the sprawling Marriott chain of hotels know, that’s more than a cute song lyric; it’s the truth. Mostly women, these “room attendants,” as they’re called, are paid a poverty wage of barely $8 an hour by this hugely profitable lodging conglomerate to perform a very hard, physical job.

LETTERS
DEBATE DODGER After listening to the radio the other day, it sounds like several local media outlets requested a public forum between the two candidates currently running for sheriff – and it took Wes Barr two months to discuss this with his campaign manager and get back with them.

Rauner’s tax fantasy doesn’t add up
My pal pointed out that Kansas Gov. Sam Brownback (R) had cut taxes across the board on the theory that it would boost the state’s economy. His idea hasn’t worked. What’s happened instead is a huge revenue shortfall which has forced gigantic state budget cuts and an economy that now lags the rest of the country.

IDOT spends $143,000 on zombie-themed seat belt ad
It’s a scene from an advertising campaign by the Illinois Department of Transportation pushing seat belt use. The department spent $143,000 on the video, even hiring an actor from the popular TV show “The Walking Dead” about survivors of a zombie outbreak.

QUINN’S HENS
Nine hens donated by a local woman came to live on the governor’s lawn in June, according to Harry Lewis, the mansion’s horticulturist. The chickens’ coop was fi rst fi lled with leaves. From their scratching and pecking the chickens provided Lewis and his crew with two compost loads that they applied to azaleas.

Ad nauseam
The race to represent Illinois’ 96 th House District pits incumbent Rep. Sue Scherer, a Democrat from Decatur, against Republican challenger Mike Bell of Edinburg. Attack ads are flying from both sides in the district, mostly making much ado about nothing.

The most expensive lawsuit
The settlement with Sangamon County and jailhouse doctors made final in September came with no admission of liability or finding of fault, but it was the most expensive lawsuit ever against the county. Between the cost of defending the lawsuit and paying Andreatta- Carlock, taxpayers shelled out nearly $5.

Restoration begins on historic Taylor House
It’s been a private residence, a home for fallen women and a technical school for African- American students. As recently as a few months ago, it was slated to become an empty lot. Now, thanks to The Springfield Project, the Taylor House at 902 South 12 th St.

Stalking wild mushrooms
Turning around, we crawled along until she spotted them again. Sulphur shelves are the neon signs of the mushroom world, warning-sign yellow underneath and electric orange on top. We had errands to run, but sulphur shelves were worth a delay. She ran into the woods, returning with a pile of flattish egg-sized lumps.

Fury gets job done, accomplishes little else
When we first meet the crew of the Sherman Tank of the title, they are much the worse for wear. Having been one of the few tanks to survive a brutal Nazi assault, they hobble back to their Allied outpost, one man shy. While the tank’s commander Sgt.

October Oddities
Often hosts name their house concert series, like the Log House near Edwardsville or the local Cabin Concerts by Ann Bova or the Hillbilly Haiku near Nashville. Our friends, the Killians in Williamsville, go by Paris-Belle House Concerts and have presented classical chamber music one day and world-class folk the next.

BAND SPOTLIGHT | Icon for Hire
Originally from Decatur, our neighbor city to the east, this ambitious and inventive combo creates pop-punk, near-rap, electronic-alternative rock music that reaches into the collective consciousness of American contemporary sounds.

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

THE CALENDAR
Display of 2,014 illuminated hand-carved pumpkins. Food, bonfi re, spooky music. Admission. Thomas Rees Memorial Carillon, 1740 W. Fayette Ave., 217-546- 3853. Nights at the Culver House.

FESTIVAL | Grinning gourds
The Jack-O-Lantern Spectacular returns for its 10th year Oct. 17-18. Inspired by a similar festival for professional artists in Providence, Rhode Island, the Springfield celebration will feature at least 2,014 pumpkins, hand-carved by local residents of all skill levels during the Carve for the Carillon event held the previous weekend.

FITNESS | Monumental mileage
Lace up those sneakers and bust out those energy gels; it’s marathon time! The second annual Springfield Marathon returns on Oct. 19, though runners will need to register no later than Oct. 18 at 4:00 p.m. The picturesque, mostly flat 26.2-mile race begins Sunday at 7:30 a.

FILM | Little people, long sentences
On Tuesday, Oct. 21, the Springfield branch of the American Civil Liberties Union invites the public to Capital City Bar & Grill for a free Liberty Brew & View screening of 15 to Life: Kenneth’s Story,.