Let the Pilgrims land again
The United States should accept 100,000 refugees from the ghastly violence in Syria, said U.S. Sen. Dick Durbin recently. More than half of that nation’s people have been driven from their homes and to date at least 250,000 have been killed – the equivalent of nearly three and a half million Americans.

Before reform, the legislature worked
Lucas was the nephew of Scott Lucas of Chandlerville who was a member of Congress, U.S. senator and from 1948 to 1950 majority leader of the United States Senate. ( Al was best man at my parents’ wedding and my mentor when I sought my first elective office on the Lincoln Land Community College board.

My pick for the next Speaker of the House
But alas, it’s under the Capitol dome, so it’s just the Republican congressional caucus – bumbling, stumbling and crashing into each other in clownish acts of ideological zaniness, political incoherence and pathetic ineptitude.

LETTERS
A few months ago, I became a campus organizer for the Conflict- Free Campus Initiative led by the Raise Hope for Congo campaign by the Enough Project at Illinois College in Jacksonville.

Republicans ‘winning,’ according to Rauner
The Paul Simon Public Policy Institute’s recent poll of southern Illinoisans showed Rauner’s approval rating absolutely tanking in a region he swept last year. Just 37 percent of voters in 18 southern counties approved of his job performance while 51 percent disapproved.

Sheriff plans appeal
In addition to reinstatement, Sherry Waldron, who pleaded guilty to shoplifting in 2013 shortly after being acquitted of theft charges for taking plants from a Sherman park in 2012, is also due to collect more than $41,000 in back pay and benefits under an Oct.

CHECK THE CLOSET
On Oct. 19, we made a simple records request: What is Gov. Bruce Rauner’s email address? Instead of revealing how folks might reach His Raunerness, the governor’s staff this week told Illinois Times that the governor needs an additional fi ve business days to disclose the governor’s email address.

A VICIOUS YARN ATTACK
An unscrupulous band of thugs has attacked Springfi eld with a most cruel and barbarous weapon: yarn. Their fi rst vicious attack can be witnessed where the 600 block of Myrtle Street meets South Sixth Street, just south of Laurel Avenue. There, a utility pole has been ensnared in a brightly colored web of crocheted destruction.

Was the State Fair illegal?
How did that happen when Illinois isn’t paying social service providers for important functions like mental health treatment? The Illinois Department of Agriculture simply says the fair is required by law, but the department appears to have spent that money in defiance of state law.

Suing over pensions
With tens of millions of public dollars at stake, unions representing city of Springfield employees have sued the city seeking to overturn a city council decision ending a pension-fattening perk that municipal officials say is unique to the capital city.

PLACES TO SHOP LOCAL
Here’s the annual good news issue where we pause from complaining and correcting and prescribing the path to a better Springfi eld. Instead we celebrate the best of Springfi eld. And not what we at IT think is the best but, for a change, we let our readers decide.

PLACES TO SHOP LOCAL
You want booze? Friar Tuck has it. Lots and lots and lots of it. More than you can possibly imagine, and then some.

PLACES TO SHOP LOCAL
2475 West Monroe St., 341-5393 Jim Fulgenzi comes from a family of builders, so it was only natural that he’d take the next step and go into real estate. Fulgenzi, who owns Jim Fulgenzi & Company RE/MAX Professionals, has been in the real estate business for 22 years.

LOCAL BARS AND NIGHTLIFE
What goes into making a good Bloody Mary? JP Kelly’s likes to leave that up to the customer, which is surely one of the reasons they scored high marks in this category with our voters.

LOCAL BEAUTY, HEALTH & FITNESS
On its Facebook page, the sole self-description of Capital City CrossFit (C3 to its friends) is “forging elite fitness.” While CrossFit is a proprietary brand (read: franchise) of “physical exercise, philosophy and competitive fitness sport” (Wikipedia), not all CrossFit gyms are created equal.

LOCAL FOOD
You no longer have to go to St. Louis or Chicago for good pastries and bread, and this year’s winner, Incredibly Delicious, is one of the main reasons why. The “all butter” handmade croissants (available in plain, raspberry, chocolate and almond cream) are melt-in-your-mouth delicious and the tarts shouldn’t be missed.

LOCAL FOOD
2121 North Grand Ave., 525-4952 You can’t miss Krekel’s – just look for the rooster. But it’s burgers that are Krekel’s claim to fame – fresh, never frozen, smashed onto a sizzling hot griddle and served with a toasted bun that’s been hit with butter. These gems are the highest form of burger in the city, according to our readers.

LOCAL FOOD
There are plenty of Mexican restaurants in Springfield, but Xochimilco wins this category once again. We’re hearing whispers of a dynasty. So what is it that fosters such loyalty? We hear about Xochimilco’s fresh ingredients and authentic recipes like Chilaquiles.

LOCAL KIDS STUFF
Dance Creations Dance Studio 1401 E. Cottonwood St., 529-TUTU Dance Creations Dance Studio is a familyoriented dance studio offering a diverse menu of classes for all ages. Class options range from ballet, point, jazz, tap, hip-hop, lyrical dance, creative movement, move and groove, fitness, music classes, gymnastics and more.

LOCAL PEOPLE AND PLACES
It’s sometimes difficult for renters to feel like they’re truly part of a community because they don’t own the place they live, and it’s often only a matter of time before they move again. The key to any community, however, is relationships. Voters chose Lake Pointe Apartments as the best apartment community, and there may be several reasons for that.

LOCAL PEOPLE AND PLACES
When you reach a certain age, keeping a house in order requires more effort than it’s worth. But what if you don’t need to be in a nursing home? That’s where retirement communities come in.

LOCAL MUSIC & ENTERTAINMENT
Since not-so-humble beginnings in 2013, this popular venue continues to pack ’em in, concentrating on touring, contemporary country bands, often on the national music charts, to draw a crowd. The North Dirksen Parkway showplace once was a popular late night dance club, perhaps the reason folks claim it to be best place to dance in 2015.

Stories of people on the margins getting by
Previous to this latest work, Olson authored two memoirs about her time in the Peace Corps in Gondar, Ethiopia. A longtime social activist, Olson has worked locally advocating for the homeless. She seems to have drawn from her experiences for this book.

Slow Food Springfield St. Louis brewery tour
For as long as I can remember, St. Louis has been a beer town. And for most of that time, St. Louis was a one-brewery town. Anheuser- Busch ruled the roost; even sighting a Miller High Life – the champagne of bottled beer – was a rare event. Of course Anheuser- Busch, which has been in business since the mid-1800s, was local.

Cuisine Scene
planet frozen desserts, including non-fat and low-fat froyo, gelato, and Italian ice! L & D, $$ Cocoa Blue Chocolates.

Kasbah fails to rock
It’s never a good sign when, while watching a movie, your mind becomes preoccupied with questions like “I wonder at what point in the production process this went wrong?” and “Didn’t they realize they were making a colossal turd?” or “Do I need to...

Happy Halloweeners
Before Halloweening begins we have a celebration to attend to, as one of our most respected, talented and long-running bands lays down the groove one last time. The final performance and reunion of the Screamin Vatos happens on Friday at the Curve Inn from 6 to 10 p.

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

BAND SPOTLIGHT | A Thousand Horses
A real rock-country music band that’s having chart success while claiming influences from a “hybrid of English rock, country, American rock, soul and blues.” Michael Hobby (lead vocals), Bill Satcher (lead guitar), Zach Brown (guitar, vocals) and Graham Deloach (bass, vocals) hail from South Carolina and came together as a group in 2010.

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

HOLDAY HAPPENINGS | Halloween at the Hoogland
Here’s a Halloween party the whole family can enjoy: The Halloween Family Carnival, hosted by the Hoogland Kids, Teens and Juniors.

FILM | A Hallows Eve double feature
This Saturday, join the Boo Crew Haunted House crew at the Prairie Capital Convention Center’s Bank of Springfield plaza for an unforgettable evening combining film, fun and food. Bring your chairs and blankets (no outside coolers) and enjoy two terrifying films outdoors on the big screen: the original Friday the 13 th.

MUSIC: GENERAL EVENTS | A spooky, sensory performance
This Halloween, experience a spooky, sensory concert performed by Christopher Holman on the First Presbyterian Church’s Brombaugh Pipe Organ. Musical selections include “Toccata in D-Minor” by J.S. Bach, pieces by composers Dieterich Buxtehude, César Franck and more.