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Letter from Dominican sisters displaced in Iraq
published two letters from Dominican Sisters in Iraq who had then recently been displaced from their convents in ISIS-controlled areas to live as internally displaced persons in Erbil. Many Springfi eld residents will be familiar with the Dominican Sisters of St.

A place for business to live
On July 28, Mayor Langfelder 2.0 made good a campaign promise and appointed the members of a new Economic Development Commission that will advise the city’s – which is to say the mayor’s – Office of Planning and Economic Development.

Partners corporatize our parks
Our presidents are good at praising America’s magnificent national park system, but they’re lousy at maintaining it. Bill Clinton-thecandidate, for example, spoke of how lucky he was to have Hot Springs National Park as a childhood playground.

LETTERS
This reminds me of one of my favorite Abraham Lincoln stories. When Lincoln was a young lawyer, two farmers who had been lifelong friends came to him, both asking him to represent them in a proposed lawsuit over the installation of a fence between their properties.

Rauner’s world
When the party was out of power for 12 years, several independent actors were always trying to influence elections from behind the scenes, elbowing people out, putting people in. This is a diverse state, and the party has numerous factions, both economic and social.

The case of the missing clients
It started in a closet more than 35 years ago, eventually growing to help as many as 1,250 people per month. Lately, however, significantly fewer people have sought help from the Grace Lutheran Food Pantry in Springfield, leaving the charity’s volunteers scratching their heads.

FAIRLY PERFECT
Tell us something we don’t know: The Illinois State Fair was recently named among the top 20 state fairs by travel website BLT, reinforcing our longstanding belief that the ISF is quite a gem. The website touts the offerings of the Ethnic Village, the great Grandstand concerts, the antique farm equipment displays and more.

NO PICTURES, PLEASE
The National Labor Relations Board has found that management at the State Journal-Register may have illegally videotaped employees during an informational picket outside the paper last fall, according to the United Media Guild that represents newsroom employees.

None of our business
Consider the governor’s appointment calendar, which Rauner has refused to make public. I got interested in the calendar after Rauner last spring gave a short speech, then walked out of a Holocaust remembrance ceremony at the Old State Capitol. He didn’t stick around to hear what a death camp survivor had to say.

Lawyers doing God’s work
During his early days as a parish priest in the 1980s, Bishop Thomas Paprocki, leader of the Diocese of Springfield, founded the Chicago Legal Clinic to help the poor with such matters as bankruptcy, child custody disputes and arguments with landlords.

Keeping it Downhome
The Downhome Music, Beer and Art Festival is in its fifth year and things are going like gangbusters. “It’s just grown exponentially for us,” says Downhome founder Josh Catalano. “We had over 10,000 people last year and our goal this year is 15,000 – although obviously we’d be happy with 12,000.

BAND SCHEDULE FRIDAY
6 p.m. - The Complaint Line 7 p.m. - Psycho Fight 8 p.m. - Luzhin Defense 9 p.m. - Governor Street 12 a.m. - Lazer Dudes.

Contrast
In June I ate a multi-course meal at Niche, one of St. Louis’ most highly acclaimed and innovative restaurants. Each course was beautifully presented, some components having been delicately placed with tweezers.

CuisineScene
SWEETS & TREATS Baskin Robbins Ice Cream.

Haunting Gift one of the year’s best
Having just moved to Los Angeles, Simon and Robyn (Jason Bateman and Rebecca Hall) are eager for a fresh start.

Festival festivities
The big event in Springfield on Friday and Saturday is the Downhome Music, Beer & Art Festival held on Seventh Street between Washington and Adams. This is the fifth year for the locally organized and presented event, featuring some 40 acts on five stages, at least 100 craft beer varieties plus art displays as well.

BAND SPOTLIGHT | Broseph E. Lee
On the move and in the groove, this six-piece, self-proclaimed “country-rock” band covers contemporary and country classics, but what really sets Broseph E. Lee apart is their catchy songwriting. With the recent completion of the CD EP Fill ‘Em On Up,.

PUB CRAWL
Fill In The Blank, Abyss, The Locals, Sammy & The Punk, Terribly Happy.

NATURE| Architecture inspired by insects
Learn about the monarch butterfly, the insect that inspired many of the lighting designs throughout Frank Lloyd Wright’s Dana-Thomas House, during a free educational event on Sunday, Aug 9.

THE CALENDAR
Fairs & Festivals Chapin Big Country Days.

FESTIVALS| 10 stages of family-friendly fun
For the past 30 years, live music and family fun have been at the forefront of Decatur Celebration. This year is no exception, with a four-day schedule that is bigger and better than ever.