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American values and struggles grew up together
I was part of a recent panel discussion of democracy at Lincoln Land Community College, sponsored by the Academy of Lifelong Learning. Our discussion celebrated the beginning of self-government, of “democracy” in the New World, in the Virginia colony on Aug.

Pay ’em what they’re worth
Still, there are some occupations that most of us cannot imagine doing for any amount of money. Who among us can run into burning buildings to save strangers, as we expect from firefighters, or get spit on and second-guessed like cops who are just doing their jobs?.

Cannabis and casinos are hot topics for Lightfoot
Her city casino proposal didn’t include a downtown location because she said she wanted the development benefits to target an outlying area. Her adult-use cannabis plan also forbids retail sales downtown, for partially the same reason: Let the neighborhoods benefit.

LETTERS
TIME FOR CHANGE “We can no longer save the world by playing by the rules because the rules have to be changed. We need a system change, rather than individual change, but you cannot have one without the other. And so I ask you to please wake up and make the changes required possible.

WANTED: GOOD COPS
After long maintaining that deputies should have college experience, Sangamon County Sheriff Jack Campbell says applicants will no longer need college classes to get jobs. He says he’s already done that for wouldbe correctional officers at the county jail.

Trees come down in Poplar-less Place
Dozens of mature shade trees lining streets in Poplar Place have been cut down. Where leaves and branches once offered respite from the sun, there are only stumps, trunks and mulch piles in front of homes, some occupied, some boarded up, some looking beyond repair.

COMPASS KIDS WIN AGAIN
Compass for Kids, the after-school program and summer learning camp for Springfield homeless and lowincome children, has been awarded a $25,000 grant from State Farm insurance. The Springfield nonprofit is one of 40 groups nationwide awarded $25,000 grants from State Farm’s Neighborhood Assist program.

Pet Health Tips for an On-the-Go Lifestyle
(Family Features) People who lead busy lives often seek convenient and healthy choices when it comes to taking care of their own wellbeing. For pet parents, a little creativity can make it easy to deliver the same level of care for their beloved pets, even when the pace of life accelerates.

Listen to the dead
In the late 19 th and early 20th centuries, cemeteries were the first public parks. Women strolling with parasols and families spread out on blankets enjoying a picnic would be a common site. The living paid respect to their loved ones and celebrated their own lives.

This zoo is becoming a whole different animal
Jeff Mitchell, general curator at Henson Robinson, has been with the zoo for a year and a half, having spent 25 years working with animals at zoos all over the Midwest. “Even as long as I have been doing this, I still can learn something new,” he says.

A Bears tale
This year marks the centennial celebration of the Chicago Bears, an iconic founding franchise of the National Football League. While the team’s roots are found in next-door Decatur, where they first played as the Staleys, it was only after their relocation to Chicago that they became identified as a cornerstone franchise of the NFL.

Apple goodness in every bite
It was in my quest to make the ultimate apple pie that I feel like my desserts achieved next-level status. One of my pie pet peeves is filling that bubbles out of the crust while baking, making a mess of my oven and wasting precious fruity flavor.

Ponderous Astra a worthy exercise
Set in the near future, astronaut Roy McBride (Brad Pitt) is a man who’s walled himself off from the world. Calm even in the midst of dire circumstances - much is made of his consistently low resting heart rate – he miraculously survives a fall from a floating antenna station after its hit with an electrical surge.

So long September
As we wing our way through the last weekend in September, look for more fun in the sun for a bit longer as we transition from the beer gardens gigs and few remaining outdoor festivals back into the more intimate spaces to be seen inside the bar scene.

LIVE MUSIC
Brandon Santini-Tennessee Redemption.

BAND SPOTLIGHT | Shonen Knife
From humble beginnings in their hometown of Osaka, Japan, as a DIY, punk-pop-rock band back in 1981, this group of two sisters, Naoko (vocals, guitar) and Atsuko (bass, vocals), along with Risa (drums, vocals) is still going strong in 2019. With a new album, Sweet Candy Power,.

FOOD | Dana-Thomas House Foundation
Susan Lawrence Dana (portrayed by Linda Schneider) invites you to her 157th birthday. Held at Maldaner’s Restaurant, Springfield’s oldest restaurant where Susan often dined, you can enjoy a gourmet dinner, music by the Virgil Rhodes Trio, a tour of the rooftop garden and readings from Susan’s letters.

THE CALENDAR
using alpaca fi ber. Free. Alpacas of Indian Point Hills, 17229 VanEman St., Petersburg, 217-414-0266..

CHILDREN’S CORNER | Hope
Hope is a leader in the development of new methods to educate, treat and care for children with autism spectrum disorders and other developmental disabilities.