Page 1

Park-ing problems
You know how it goes. A rich family buys an old place in a once-posh neighborhood and starts to fix it up. They’re worried that plans for multi-family apartments in the empty lot across the street will ruin property values, so they try to buy the lot themselves and expand their yard.

Casino bills taking billions from Illinois education
Having passed the Illinois Senate on May 17 and pending in the House, Senate Bill 7 would authorize a Chicago Casino Development Authority (CCDA) as a government unto itself via a “perpetual” license with all owned or “leased” property tax exempt.

Stop blaming workers for this mess
Luckily for the development and enrichment of our country, these past public frenzies ultimately failed to exclude the teeming masses, and those uproars now appear through the telescope of time to have been some combination of ridiculous panic, political demagoguery and xenophobic ugliness.

LETTERS
I am asking readers to begin flooding both department stores and bicycle sales shops with this message: “We the people of Springfield want your business to start having your suppliers begin adding electronic tagging to every bicycle which your store/shop sells.

This is the wrong hill to die on
Look, in this business, you only negotiate on a bill you flatly oppose if you’re trying to run out the clock. Otherwise, you just kill it. And because of this, people in the governor’s office are saying they don’t think that Cullerton really wants a deal.

Cop pleads guilty, keeps job
Deputy John Bartello was placed on paid administrative leave in June of last year, pending investigation for illegal possession of steroids. The drugs in question were sent to his home from Thailand, where federal Drug Enforcement Agency agents spotted the suspicious shipment.

TASTE OF INCLUSION
The HLA is a special education program that strives to educate students regardless of socioeconomic background, learning style or disability. This café employs vocational students from Hope with developmental disabilities while offering a friendly atmosphere for the community to enjoy.

NOW HEAR THIS
As we enter the fi nal week of Better Hearing and Speech Month, the Cochlear Implant Awareness Foundation, a Springfi eld-based nonprofi t, is participating in the “Million Ear Challenge,” the goal of which is to inform two million people about hearing loss by May 31.

Health care in crisis
Despite attempts at an overall cheery tone, the views presented during “Obamacare after Obama: The future of U.S. health care at a crossroads,” a conference held at the Memorial Center for Learning and Innovation last Friday, could not help but paint a disturbing picture of the potential short and long-term future of health care in this country.

Developer proposes downtown Springfield casino
Chris Stone, owner of EMS Midwest, Inc., recently proposed plans to members of the city council and Mayor James Langfelder to have a casino near the Old State Capitol. EMS Midwest, Inc., is a business governmental consulting agency with commercial properties in Illinois, Florida and Arizona.

2017 Summerlong Summerguide
24th Annual Passavant- Gatorade 5K and 10K.

Sangamon County Fair
The Sangamon County Fair has made some exciting changes in time for the 2017 season, which runs June 13-18. General admission pricing has been reduced and a new concert ticket price has been introduced in order to allow fans to customize their fair experience by paying for only the events and facilities they’ll attend or use.

Pawnee Prairie Days
This June, cruise 20 minutes south down I-55 and enjoy a small-town festival among the cornfields in picturesque Pawnee. This year’s Pawnee Prairie Days will be observed June 22-24. The three-day celebration features traditional festival fare, events and activities in a tight-knit community setting.

Legacy of Giving Festival
The SOHO (Service Organization for Humanitarian Opportunity) Music Festival was a highlight among the central Illinois summer festival scene for 12 years. But earlier this year SOHO’s founder and director Eric Welch announced his plans to step back from the festival, effective immediately.

Wacky Wheelers Parades
The health benefits to riding a bike are numerous and include strengthening your hips, thighs and rear end. Because cycling is a low-impact activity, it is gentle on joints, making it an excellent activity for individuals of varied ages and activity levels.

Amaranth Apple Festival
Although the name “Amaranth Apple Festival” (Downtown Springfield Inc.’s revision of 2016’s Bacon Throwdown) may sound like a celebration of the late summer and early autumn deciduous fruit, the midsummer festival, occurring July 14-15, actually...

Powerlight Abraham Lincoln Super Cruise and Car Show Spectacular
The Powerlight Abraham Lincoln Super Cruise and Car Show Spectacular is one of the most anticipated car show weekends for automotive enthusiasts in central Illinois. Powerlight weekend presents opportunities to showcase your classic car, meet fellow car lovers, enjoy drive-in movies along historic Route 66, and take in unique air and ground displays.

Zoo, Shakespeare and history
Holding my nose in the zoo building full of big cats and apes, sampling goodies from laden family reunion tables, anticipating the first July Fourth fireworks bursting over a small lake – that’s what Miller Park meant to me as a child growing up east of Bloomington-Normal.

Tour historic Oakland Mansion
Historic houses happen to be one of my favorite things, so when I heard about the beautiful Oakland Mansion in St. Louis, I headed out with Annie Jansen and her sister, Joanie, to check it out. Charlie Brown, the president of the Affton Historical Society said Oakland House was built in 1853-1854 by Louis A.

Shandy is dandy
Loathe to get out of our cars, we use the drive-thru – it is too much work to write “through” – when we want a hamburger. Cheese comes already grated. Remote controls are no longer enough. When we want to change the channel or the volume, or even order a pizza, we speak into a gizmo we bought from Amazon that takes care of everything.

Springfield’s Boys of Summer
The Sliders are a collegiate summer league baseball team from the Prospect League, an organization of 10 teams showcasing college players from all over the country. The Sliders, who play their home games at Lanphier Park’s Robin Roberts Field, are in their 10 th year of existence.

Arsenic and old musicals
Popular musicals abound around central Illinois this summer. Whether you’re into dancing paper boys or have a soft spot for recalcitrant beasts, pack your bug spray and your rosé..

Sounds of summer
There are too many exciting concerts scheduled to hit central Illinois stages in the coming months to fit in this humble space.

Kitsune
I recognized the look. I see it every time I walk in the back door of a new restaurant. “I’m Peter, and I’m here to stage.” (A stage is an unpaid, short-term internship when a cook works in another chef’s kitchen to learn and be exposed to new techniques and cuisines.

Two young leads nearly save Everything
Maddy (Amandla Stenberg) thinks of herself as an astronaut, trapped in a selfcontained suit, cut off from the world and everyone in it.

Memorable Memorial Day and more
Well, here we are, set to explore, exploit and explain another wonderful Memorial Day weekend full of fun and music. Let’s keep enough reverence to the reason for the celebration and respect the festivities while participating, but let the good times roll indeed.

PUB CRAWL
Ben Dipper, Blind Social, Opposite Good, Mike Fitz.

BAND SPOTLIGHT | Creole Stomp
You won’t find a better band replicating the sounds of Cajun and Zydeco through original songs and traditional tunes, but these dashing and daring musicians of high caliber cheerfully toss in a taste of contemporary blues and swamp rock to keep the party rolling.

THE CALENDAR
In collaboration with Lincoln Land Community College. Pre-show entertainment at 7pm. $15 adults, $13 seniors, $10 children under 12. theatreinthepark.net. Theatre in the Park, Lincoln’s New Salem State Historic Site, 15588 History Lane, Petersburg, 632-5440.

HISTORY | A cemetery celebration
During the 19 th century, cemeteries served as gathering places for the community, often hosting speeches, walks and picnics. On Saturday, May 27, Oak Ridge Cemetery will restore that 19 th century tradition during the annual A Spirited Stroll event. From 1-4 p.

MUSIC | Five Star Brass
Five Star Brass, the United States Army band ensemble, will kick off the Springfield Area Arts Council’s annual Artist on the Plaza summer entertainment series on Tuesday, May 30. The free, semiweekly outdoor performances are held Memorial Day through Labor Day, Tuesdays and Thursdays from 12-1 p.

SPORTS | Run, ride, skip, skate in the streets
This summer, enjoy safe, outdoor recreation in one of Springfield’s most historic parks during Washington Park’s Bike and Hike Days. Bike and Hike Days run Memorial Day weekend through Labor Day weekend, Sundays from 8 a.m. to 3 p.m., and Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Thursdays from 4-6 p.