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Hard times at Goodwill
I didn’t know him until last week, but Nicholas Braun helped. They let him on the sales floor, occasionally, to put stuff back on hangers that shoppers hadn’t returned on their own. Mostly, he stayed in the backroom, finding mates for shoes amid heaped masses or pulling clothes from bins and hanging them on racks.

You think this weather’s bad? Illinois in the Depression was worse.
Though climate extremes are a hotbutton issue today, the weather of the 1930s was some of the most severe in American history, particularly in the Land of Lincoln. Unfortunately for Illinoisans suffering with Depression-era hardship, weather was a consistent problem.

What happens when you cross your own party?
Rep. Chris Miller (R-Oakland) is the most recent to lose his state-funded communications staff member. Earlier this year, Rep. Dave McSweeney (R-Barrington Hills) lost his comms staffer for criticizing fellow Republican Rep.

LETTERS
BUY LOCAL WORKS BOTH WAYS I went to a locally owned music store hoping to purchase. I walked in and down one side then across the entire back wall to find the instruments I was looking for. Three people around the counter ignored me the whole time. I fumbled with out-of-tune instruments.

Leaves and grass
The city council next week is scheduled to vote on a new contract for Evans, which makes mulch from waste and spreads it on farmland. Under the contract that would retroactively take effect on July 1 and expire next March, the city would pay $720,000 for disposal.

Rebounds against racism
“I think we’re more polarized now than we have been for a while as a society, especially when it comes to race,” said Al Klunick, co-organizer of the upcoming Community Unity 2 On 2 Tournament, which aims to pit integrated basketball duos against each other in an attempt to bridge racial gaps.

Racing board falls short
Criticism included failure to properly account for euthanasia drugs, according to the June 4 report. Auditors found that veterinarians at one unnamed track didn’t accurately log such drugs. An invoice for one purchase didn’t indicate how many vials were kept at tracks.

Camp Compass, where learning is fun
The enrollment has tripled, the programs have been expanded, and a new partnership with Springfield School District 186 means that Camp Compass is a larger summer education force than ever. But bigger doesn’t always mean better if your clients aren’t happy.

The King and The Bard
The setting is a never-never-land smalltown America in 1955. An attractive drifter is stranded while his motorcycle is repaired by a tomboy mechanic.

Crawl a B-movie delight
Fifteen minutes in, it became obvious that a good time would be had, as Aja’s intent isn’t so much to frighten as it is to see just how long he could ride the film’s premise before the wheels come off. Surprisingly, it’s much farther than you’d expect.

Oops! I did it again.
Overcome by the zeal of spring gardening, I planted way too many cucumber plants and am once more inundated with daily harvests of bright green fruit. In addition to filling out my dinner table from June until frost, cucumber plants are much loved by pollinators, from fat, fuzzy bumblebees to homely moths and wasps.

Abe, corn and more
This weekend marks the debut of the latest downtown music fest. It somewhat fits into when and where those Taste of Springfield, American Music Show and Amaranth Apple Fest events fell in years past.

LIVE MUSIC
Captain Geech and the Shrimp Shack Shooters.

BAND SPOTLIGHT | Ross Sermons
A native of North Carolina, this rock-solid, deep-roots musician of the finest degree travels far and wide to make his music matter. Ross spent time in Nashville touring and recording with some well-known and respected country business names for years.

THE CALENDAR
Sherlock Holmes Society of Springfield.

FOOD | Dana-Thomas House Foundation
Frank Lloyd Wright, architect and designer of the Dana-Thomas House, enjoyed the occasional nip of bourbon and even has a bourbon drink named in his honor.

FAIRS & FESTIVALS | How sweet it is
It’s finally back – the annual opportunity to fling desiccated dung of the cow variety. The Chatham Jaycees Sweet Corn Festival just wouldn’t be the same without the familiar flat trailer loaded with local, freshly harvested dry cow chips all waiting for their moment in the sun – to be a part of the Illinois Championship Cow Chip Throw.

Sports & Fitness | Swim, ride and run
Kids ages 5-13 are invited to participate in the 8 th annual triathlon hosted by HSHS St. John’s Children’s Hospital, Scheels and the Springfield Triathlon Club. The mini tri for ages 5 and 6 begins with a 50-meter pool swim, followed by a 0.6- mile bike ride and 0.