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School board blues
Don’t send rapists and murderers and former governors to the gurney. Instead, sentence them to attend school board meetings, where they can be strapped down in chairs and gagged so they can’t scream. Force their eyelids open with metal contraptions and station a nurse to apply eyedrops, Clockwork Orange-style,.

Beware of bogus bipartisanship
On Jan. 1, 1937, Social Security became effective, which meant workers and employers began making payments into a special U.S. Treasury account. The Republican Party, seeing an opportunity to siphon off labor support from President Roosevelt’s 1936 re-election began a political fear campaign.

Trump’s immigration policy
Consider the example of Fredrich, a 16-year-old boy who fled his tiny German village where he faced a dreary future of poverty. He arrived in Manhattan in 1885 with no money and little education. An unaccompanied minor, he was nonetheless greeted by America’s open immigration policy of the time and welcomed into citizenship.

LETTERS
APPETITE ON THE AVENUE Taking place in Shop ’n Save’s vast parking lot on North Grand Avenue, just east of First Street from 4:30 to 8 p.m., Tuesday evening’s (Oct. 9) Appetite on the Avenue will be our second annual food truck event.

Durkin’s wise move
The AHEA panel wants the state’s political parties to make their funding of candidates contingent on campaigns adopting specific policies and training. The panel was created in the wake of numerous sexual harassment allegations at the Statehouse and in campaigns.

LAUGHING FOR 20 YEARS
The club, which was saved from going out of business at the 11th hour in June by an anonymous $20,000 loan, will begin its new season with an engagement by comic Greg Hahn, known to comedy fans for his frequent spots on popular syndicated radio...

Antidotes to a toxic political culture
This summer, State Representative Carol Ammons, D-Urbana, State Senator Melinda Bush, D-Grayslake, and Illinois Comptroller Susana A.

MEMORIAL PARK
Gov. Bruce Rauner and Illinois State Police (ISP) director Leo P. Schmitz were among those in attendance Tuesday, Oct. 2, when the Illinois State Police Heritage Foundation held the offi cial dedication of the Illinois State Police Memorial Park, honoring 67 ISP offi cers killed in the line of duty.

Peace of paper
Betsy Dollar, whose current exhibition “New Paper Works” is ongoing at the Chatham Area Public Library, explained that papermaking was not always an end in itself for her. “It started out as a technique to generate something to print or paint on, to make into a book or fold into a sculpture,” she said.

Where they stand
“I embrace it. I’ve been a union member and the union has been very good to me and my family,” said the 57-year-old Senor, the Springfield Ward 2 alderman and a 30- year employee of the Illinois Department of Transportation.

Climbing up hill, optimistically
Pierce, who is African-American, is an alcohol and substance abuse counselor and ordained minister who ran unsuccessfully in the 2016 Republican primary for state representative. Pierce said he was rebuffed by the GOP chairmen in Macon and Christian counties when he indicated he wanted to run again this year.

Growing green buildings
Solar panels, monarch butterflies, energy efficiency, eco-designed chairs, clean energy, rooftop gardens, manufactured construction and pollinator pockets are just some of the sustainability topics discussed at the 15 th annual Green Symposium held at the University of Illinois Springfield Student Union Sept.

Architecture makes life better
As a freelance writer, I enjoy writing about an eclectic range of topics – health and fitness, nutrition, museums, travel, advocacy, government, local businesses, community leaders, wedding planning, programs for kids, activities for seniors and interesting people, places and organizations.

Opening doors to beautiful windows
You’ve likely driven by the Sacred Heart Convent Chapel many times without realizing you are passing by an architectural gem filled with spectacular stained glass. The Sacred Heart Convent, on West Monroe Street between Amos and Lincoln avenues, is the motherhouse of the Dominican Sisters of Springfield and retirement home for their senior sisters.

A trio of travel
The Dixon-Oregon-Grand Detour area, 170 miles north of Springfield, is chock-full of historic and natural wonders. One of those is the 50-foot Lorado Taft sculpture of Chief Black Hawk, a renowned warrior and leader of the Sauk nation in the early 1800s.

Upside-down cake
With the onset of crisp autumn weather, I’ve been eager to retreat into my kitchen and bake. Displays of ripe autumn fruit, stacked high on tables at the market, make me want to run home and turn off the news, turn on my oven and work myself into an apple and cinnamon-fueled oblivion.

Cooper, Gaga salvage Star
Cooper pulls off an Orson Welles, where in addition to acting in the film, he serves as one of its writers and producers. Good for him for having the clout to pull this off; however, the movie itself might have been better had he not had his thumb in all of the production’s pies.

Taking to giving music
We begin with a memorial tribute on Tuesday evening, Oct. 9, during the award-winning Curve Inn open mic to honor the memory of Alex Borisov Jr., a kind soul, brilliant guitarist and all-around good human being who passed away nearly a year ago, way too soon at age 63.

PUB CRAWL
Sunshine Daydream, Eric Burgett Band, Illinois Nationals.

BAND SPOTLIGHT | Los Injectors
There’s nothing in the world quite like this trio of “HeavyMetalPunkPsychobilly” music-mayhem makers, and more than likely, there never will be.

THEATER & COMEDY | Audience-driven improvisational comedy
On Saturday, Oct. 6, enjoy 90 minutes of hilarious improvised comedy and song by Ryan Stiles, Greg Proops, Jeff B. Davis and Joel Murray, four of improv’s biggest names and the current cast members of the Emmy-nominated television show titled “Whose Line is it Anyways?”.

THE CALENDAR
Books & Authors Friends of UIS Brookens Library Book Sale.

FAIRS & FESTIVALS | Seasonal family fun
Gather the family and spend a gorgeous day (or two) in Cawley Meadow at Lincoln Memorial Garden for the annual Indian Summer Festival.