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Blue Wave? More like blue sweat
To keep sane, I’ve been following the developments of the Democratic “Blue Wave,” led by unprecedented numbers of women candidates running, some for the first time, for the House, Senate, governorships and other offices.

Leveraging Lincoln
“After it belongs to us, it is our decision to do what makes the most sense for the ALPLM,” Tolbert Chisum, a board member of the private foundation established to support the museum, wrote in a 2007 email. “I see no reason in ever letting it out to the public, unless we need some publicity.

LETTERS
FERAL CATS AT UIS Charles Coderko, associate chancellor for administrative affairs at University of Illinois Springfield, has decided to wage war on the feral cat colony at UIS and stop the small group of compassionate employees who, on their own time and with their own resources, have been helping them.

Um, what?
“If politicians in Springfield don’t do their job and balance the budget, they shouldn’t get paid. Period,” the mailer claims.

State: Sidney Watkins shouldn’t live with mom
One person, Sidney’s father, Steven, is dead. He was gunned down in 2008 when he went to pick up his daughter for a court-ordered visit. Jennifer Watkins, who was in the Ashland home with her family when her estranged husband was shot in back of the head, didn’t cooperate with police.

QUITTERS WANTED
Gatehouse Media, the paper’s corporate parent, has invited employees at all of the company’s properties in Illinois to resign their positions in exchange for severance packages.

Library of Congress wants riot artifacts
The long-brewing Springfield rail relocation project, which would move the railroad tracks currently on Third Street to 10 th Street, has unearthed significant archaeological findings from the 1908 Springfield race riot. The riot led directly to the formation of the NAACP and so the findings are considered to be of national significance.

Fall Guide
Washington Park Historic Photography Display.

Grant, goodies and great vistas in Galena
Murphy’s show is just part of the magic of Galena, that hilly city tucked in Illinois’ far northwestern corner and home to the 18 th U.S. president. History buffs will glory in seeing Ulysses S. Grant’s former stomping grounds while shoppers and scenery seekers will find plenty to thrill them, 255 miles from Springfield.

Adventures on two wheels
There’s nothing like having venison still on the hoof jump out in front of you to ruin an otherwise perfect ride, and so sage motorcyclists are parked well before sundown, when deer become both more active and harder to see. The risk increases as the days grow shorter and breeding season nears.

The new Arch park
Mike Ward, superintendent of Gateway Arch National Park, says being involved in the redevelopment of the Gateway Arch is a oncein-a-lifetime career opportunity. Eight years in the making, the CityArchRiver project is a $380 million public-private partnership that has transformed the Arch grounds and surrounding areas in downtown St.

Autumn onstage
As the balmy days of summer recede and cooler temperatures begin to prevail, it’s traditional for the theatrical venues of central Illinois to start heating up.

The music of fall
Just as the changing leaves of the season provide a broad spectrum of colors to delight the eye, so do the sonic offerings available to local music fans range all over the palette of pleasing sounds this autumn – indeed, from country to punk to...

Chiara Center awakens, inspires
Fill your fall by feeding your spirit and experiencing joy at the Chiara Center, a scenic and inspirational site for contemplation. Hundreds of guests each year are uplifted and enlightened through retreats, days of quiet, the Food and Faith series and collaborative programs.

Pickles
It’s been a good year for cucumbers. I planted six plants in a raised bed earlier this spring and for the past three weeks I’ve been picking anywhere from 10-20 pounds of the juicy, delicious cucurbits every other day.

Fall art
Illinois Times invited several local artists to submit autumn-themed artwork for our annual Fall Guide. We are always on the lookout for local art that can be used on the covers of our various seasonal guides and special issues.

Papillon a power metaphor for troubled times
When it comes to movie remakes, I’ve been of the mind that perhaps only bad films should be redone, or those that could be retold to reflect modern societal issues. The former is never attempted as executives play it safe by choosing movies that were done well the first time around and are thus a known quantity.

Last August blast
Let’s offer hearty congratulations to David Casper for his victory on August 17 in the Illinois State Fair karaoke competition. In return for his afternoon triumph, David reaped the rewards of performing that evening at the Grandstand, opening for Brett Eldredge.

PUB CRAWL
Stuart Smith, Tom Irwin, Jeff Davidsmeyer.

BAND SPOTLIGHT | Barrence Whitfield and the Savages
Just when you thought it was safe to go out to bars and quietly listen to contemplative acoustic sounds, along comes Barrence Whitfield and the Savages to knock your socks off and stick them in your ears.

THE CALENDAR
Aug 24-26, 8pm Fri-Sun. A stage adaptation of Edgar Lee Masters’ classic book of poems. Directed by Phil Funkenbusch. $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.

FAIRS & FESTIVALS | Food, booze and blues
Enjoy a weekend full of blues music and BBQ during the Old Capitol Blues & BBQ festival Friday, August 24 and Saturday, August 25. Friday night performers are Mary Jo Curry at 5:30 p.m., Brandon Santini at 7 p.m. and Dwayne Dopsie and the Zydeco Hellraisers at 9 p.

BOOKS & AUTHORS | Comics books, toys, artists and more
On Saturday, Aug. 25, take in the Springfield Micro Con, a comic book convention hosted by STL Comics at the Crowne Plaza in Springfield from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. This traveling convention features regional comic book vendors offering all types of comics for all ages as well as toy vendors and other talented artists and creators.

FILM | Movies from Springfield and Switzerland
Why wait until November for the next Route 66 International Film Festival when you can attend these special screenings Thursday, August 23 and Thursday, August 30? First, check out Before I Do,.