The people, places and things we relied on to get us through while we stayed home. We’ve all had to adapt to a new way of life, mostly on short notice. Whether it is a business owner trying to figure out how to continue to provide goods and services or a teacher engaging with students from a distance, there are many people going above and beyond during these challenging times. With that in mind, we decided to ask our readers to tell us about the people, places and things who kept them going during the last few months. The following results are based on our readers’ votes from May 21 to June 8 in four different categories.
STAGE 1: PREPARATION
When
Governor JB Pritzker originally announced his stay-at-home order on
March 21, it was only through April 7, but there was already a sense
that we would need to hunker down for a while. Almost overnight, basic
household supplies and grocery staples became hard to find. People began
sharing on social media about rumors of delivery trucks arriving or
photos of stocked shelves when there was something to be had. Here’s how
we got prepared.
GROCERY STORE (DELIVERY) Hy-Vee Runners Up: ALDI, Schnucks (Montvale)
GROCERY STORE (IN PERSON) ALDI Runners Up: Schnucks (Montvale), Humphrey’s Market
MOST HELPFUL BANK United Community Bank Runners Up: Bank of Springfield, INB, Marine Bank
MOST HELPFUL CREDIT UNION Heartland Credit Union Runners Up: CEFCU, Illinois Educators Credit Union
PLACE TO BUY FRESH MEAT Humphrey’s Market Runners Up: Magro’s Meat & Produce, Country Market
PLACE TO BUY FRESH PRODUCE Old Capitol Farmers Market Runners Up: Humphrey’s Market, Meijer
PLACE TO FIND TOILET PAPER Sam’s Club Runners Up: Meijer, Family Dollar
PLACE TO GET A MASK Reverie Apparel Runners Up: Food Fantasies, Menards
WHO ELSE WENT ABOVE AND BEYOND DURING STAGE 1? Mel-O-Cream Donuts Runners Up: Staff Meals, Concordia Village
Old Capitol Farmers
Market Michael Higgins, owner of Maldaner’s restaurant, knows the Old
Capitol Farmers Market as well as anyone – over the years, he’s been a
constant presence. He’s not ready to say the market is back to normal –
we won’t know that, he says, until later in the summer, when tomato
season comes in earnest and other vegetables hit their peaks. But it
looks good so far. Crowds are back, with strawberries, cucumbers,
onions, peppers, pecans and other good stuff from the earth mixed in
with freshly baked bread, gourmet coffee and other treats to enjoy when
you’re not eating your vegetables.
Putting
vendors in the middle of the street, instead of on the sides, seems a
wise move that keeps shoppers separated as they stroll on either side of
Adams Street instead of moving as a single herd down the center of the
thoroughfare. How much fun is this? Ask Chad Wallace, proprietor of Oak
Tree Farms in Ashland. Wallace has been selling at the market for more
than a dozen years, and a shortage of product didn’t stop him from
coming last weekend, when his offerings were limited to CBD oil and a
couple varieties of sausage, with “sold out” written next to more than a
dozen other things on his offerings board. Why bother making the trip?
“It’s always good to say hello to the folks,” Wallace explains. “A lot
of times, people worry about you if you’re not here.” Put another way,
the market is family, really, and neither merchants nor customers are
going to let a pandemic get in their way.
Humphrey’s Market
Independently owned and operated since 1932, Humphrey’s is a gem in the
heart of the east side, providing great prices and great quality on
meats, produce and groceries. A hot lunch counter serves a delicious
lunch on the go.
When
meat was in scarce supply at chain stores, it was plentiful at
Humphrey’s, which butchers in-house. Customers remark that the meat is
so fresh it nearly moos. The selection has to be seen to be believed.
Humphrey’s has always offered phone-in orders and home delivery, but has
now added the option of curbside pickup.
Reverie Apparel
Patrick
Russell opened his doors on a lively block of Adams Street downtown
only last November to sell T-shirts. When the coronavirus made its
presence known, Russell worked with artist Kim Stevens, who sewed about
50 masks for area nursing and assisted living homes, which were donated
free of charge. Russell also sells plain, printed or custom-made masks
at cost.
“There’s a fine line between my need to make a living and selling
Personal Protective Equipment to help us function in daily life,” says
Russell. “That’s why we’re selling them for $5.”
Mel-O-Cream Donuts
Mel-O-Cream Donuts International and the four retail locations teamed
up to create some joy in Springfield during this stressful time.
Chad
Larson, co-owner of Mel-O-Cream Donuts International, said, “We can’t
provide ventilators, but we can provide doughnuts and bring a smile to
someone’s face.”
Amanda
Crossland, who owns and operates the four retail stores, worked with
Larson and coordinated the effort to donate and deliver doughnuts far
and wide.
Mel-O-Cream
gave a big thank you to health care workers in early April when more
than 6,000 doughnuts were delivered to various locations of HSHS St.
John’s, Springfield Clinic and Memorial Medical Center. In addition,
Crossland made deliveries to Springfield’s first responders, fire
departments and police departments plus took more than 2,500 doughnuts
to area nursing homes and supportive living facilities. Larson said,
“We wanted to make sure the people behind the scenes were getting
recognized for the work they do to clean and maintain the facilities.”
Crossland
said, “I can’t say enough about the new owners of Mel-O-Cream
International, Eric, Chad and Chris Larson. They mobilized their team
and resources to make this happen. We had the privilege of helping
organize the efforts with the community.”
Crossland
herself is fairly new to the doughnut world, having purchased the
retail locations in July 2019. She has adapted to the mandate to close
dine-in restaurants by taking special orders and serving doughnuts
through the drive-up locations at 525 North Grand Ave E. and 3010 S.
Sixth St.
Larson said, “Mel-O-Cream has been in this community for so long that we are Springfield. We are connected to its soul.”
STAGE 2: STAYING BUSY
We
all have well-intentioned projects that we never seem to find time for,
but being stuck at home limited the excuses. Quarantine cleaning became
a thing, and many people tackled projects in their house or yard.
Houses of worship, gyms, museums and art galleries that weren’t allowed
to be open all began to devise ways to keep people engaged. Musicians
who could no longer hold public concerts began performing in their
living rooms. Here’s how we stayed busy at home.
EDUCATIONAL RESOURCES FOR ADULTS Lincoln Land Community College Runners Up: Lincoln Library, Chatham Area Public Library
EDUCATIONAL RESOURCES FOR KIDS Springfield School District 186 Runners Up: Westminster Presbyterian Preschool, Trinity Lutheran School
GARDEN CENTER Apple Barn Runners Up: Seaney Farms, New City Greenhouse
HOME REPAIR SERVICE Schneider Construction Runners Up: Buraski Builders, Inc., Reliable Handyman Service
LANDSCAPE MATERIAL DELIVERY Pleasant Nursery Runners Up: Designer Landscapes, Chapman Stone
LOCAL MUSICIAN (SOLO) OFFERING VIRTUAL CONCERTS Tom Irwin Runners Up: Avery Kern, Ed Clark
LOCAL MUSICIANS (GROUP) OFFERING VIRTUAL CONCERTS Springfield Theatre Center Broadway Battle Runners Up: Big Daddy Jasper, The Legacy Theatre Ghostlight Songs
ONLINE ART SHOW Felicia Olin Runners Up: Springfield Art Association, Staunztastic Art Virtual POP! Show
ONLINE CHURCH OR RELIGIOUS SERVICE West Side Christian Church Runners Up: St. Agnes Parish, Blessed Sacrament Parish
ONLINE SHOPPING EXPERIENCE District 23 Runners Up: Cardologist, Kennedy Sue Gift & Home
ONLINE WORKOUT CLASSES Fitness with Ali Griffith Runners Up: Studio M Dance Centre, Above & Beyond Dance Company
WHO ELSE WENT ABOVE AND BEYOND DURING STAGE 2? Thomas Rees Memorial Carillon Runners Up: Enos Park Neighborhood Improvement Association, Lincoln Memorial Garden
Springfield Public School District 186
When it was announced schools would close in March, many families began
to scramble to find ways to continue learning at home. At the same
time, District 186 was finding ways to continue teaching. Students were
offered iPads and Chromebooks and the district stayed in regular
communication. On its website, it offered a number of options for
families, in addition to the resources provided by teachers who kept in
regular contact with students through the end of the school year. The
district still offers learning ideas and links for those who want to
continue their remote learning through the summer months:
sps186.org/homebasedlearning.
Tom Irwin
Tom Irwin was one of the first Springfield-area musicians to make the
switch from live music to virtual, playing a total of 40 concerts online
during the quarantine rather than his regular Friday night gigs at
George Rank's, among others. He also continued to write his weekly “Now
Playing” column for Illinois Times, adapting it to highlight
other musical events happening virtually and continually encouraging his
fellow musicians to share information about their online concerts. This
marks his 20 th year as an IT contributor, and it’s no wonder he continues to be popular with our readers.
Felicia Olin
For more than a decade, Olin has been widely regarded as one of the
best artists in Springfield. She’s won multiple awards and her list of
affiliations is long. But even more prolific than her involvement is the
sheer amount of her work. When hunting for painted rocks was a popular
pastime, Olin painted dozens – if not hundreds – and left them
around town for people to find. She’s left hidden pieces around art
shows for lucky patrons to happen upon. She donates dozens of pieces for
the Old Capitol Art Fair kids’ tent every year. When the fair was
canceled, she gave out the pieces for free from her alley, where she has
painted an “outdoor art gallery” on her fence. Sometimes macabre and
always whimsical, her work is uplifting and ever-present throughout
Springfield. Her love of nature and fairy tales is often the
inspiration. During this challenging time, it’s no surprise that her
artwork inspires those in the city she loves and shares so freely with.
Thomas Rees Memorial Carillon
Even in the darkest, most uncertain days, when no one knew how many
might die or get sick, the Thomas Rees Memorial Carillon in Washington
Park rang out as it has for decades. We may be far from fancy free, but
melancholy comes tough when the bells play “Georgy Girl.” Now, perhaps
more than ever, the carillon has become an audio anchor that brings
smiles and thoughtfulness to whomever is within listening distance.
Folks, a few at least, are prone to gather near the tower when the bells
ring, which has been often. Pandemic hasn’t interfered with the usual
summer schedule, so there’s been music in the air at least five days a
week. Passersby stare at the weatherproof television that shows the
carillonist at work far over their heads. People on nearby benches look
upward, as if mesmerized. Others lie on their backs and consider the
sky. “The Star-Spangled Banner” marks the end of a 30-minute show that
was over far too soon. No one stands. No one kneels. But mothers push
baby strollers through the park and toddlers frolick and joggers jog and
life goes on, a bit brighter than it did before.
STAGE 3: CLIMBING THE WALLS
Sometimes
you can have too much of a good thing, and once we’d caught up on our
to-do list at home and spent quality time with the family (LOTS of time …
lots and lots of time) we started to go a little stir-crazy. We came up
with creative ways to get out of the house while still following the
guidelines and started making lists of all the places we were going to
go. Anybody else need a haircut and a mani/pedi?
BEST TAKE AND BAKE Papa Murphy’s Take ’N’ Bake Pizza Runners Up: Bella Milano, Pease’s at BUNN Gourmet
BEST TAKEOUT Bella Milano Runners Up: Cafe Moxo, AZ-T-CA Mexican Grill
FIRST BAR TO HAVE A DRINK AT WHEN RESTRICTIONS ARE LIFTED Buzz Bomb Brewing Company Runners Up: The Alibi, Engrained Brewery & Restaurant
FIRST RESTAURANT TO GO FOR DINE-IN WHEN RESTRICTIONS ARE LIFTED Obed & Isaac’s Microbrewery & Eatery Runners Up: Bella Milano, Xochimilco Mexican Food
LOOKING FORWARD TO A HAIRCUT (BARBER) Hair Of The Dog Bar/bershop Runners Up: The Men’s Room, Uppercuts Barbershop
LOOKING FORWARD TO A HAIRCUT (SALON) Willow & Birch Salon Runners Up: BJ Grand Salon & Spa, Engel’s on Edwards
PLACE FOR A DATE NIGHT Knights Action Park Route 66 Drive In
PLACE FOR A FAMILY OUTING Lincoln Memorial Garden and Nature Center Runners Up: Springfield parks, Thomas Rees Memorial Carillon
WHO ELSE IS GOING ABOVE AND BEYOND DURING STAGE 3? Copper Pot Cooking Studio Runners Up: John Geyston Martial Arts, Illinois State Museum
Buzz Bomb Brewing Co.
No Buzz Bomb beer went bad while Springfield thirsted, says a masked-up
Benjamin Gines, owner of the downtown Adams Street drinkery, but that
largely was a matter of planning and reducing production as closure
loomed back in March. And boy, did we ever get thirsty, both for beer
and the company of others while sipping suds – the couch or front porch
just isn’t the same as a beer parlor.
Buzz
Bomb has been buzzing bigtime in recent weeks, thanks both to tasty
microbrews and location. Customers aren’t allowed inside, but there’s
tons of room in the street, which the city has closed and Buzz Bomb has
converted into an Oktoberfest-in-summer type of affair, with room for
more than 100 at tables on pavement where cars now are banned. No
long-term decisions have been made, but Gines says he’d like to see the
street in front of his bar closed permanently.
He
says he didn’t know quite what to expect when he reopened, but crowds
are back, and most customers, Gines says, have been behaving themselves
and wearing masks. “It was well over the top of what we thought it would
be,” he says. While Gines worries that infection rates might jump and
prompt a new closure order, so far, things have been working out. “We
made it,” he said. “Our bills are paid.”
Obed and Isaac’s
Summer-wise,
it doesn’t get much better than moderately upscale pub fare with a
shandy in the shade at Obed and Isaac’s beer garden, where bocce ball
and music are both played on occasion and well-behaved dogs are always
welcome. Bavarian pretzel rolls are a must and the flatbread pizza isn’t
far behind. The place was packed on opening day, so much so that we
confess we shied away for fear of being around too many people.
A
couple days before opening, owner Karen Conn said that Obed’s is taking
the pandemic seriously. “We’re going to do everything that we can to
maintain the safety of our staff,” she said. “They’re going to be asked
to wear masks to protect them, wash their hands on a regular basis and
wear gloves.” If need be, Conn said, customers in violation of health
protocols would be asked to leave. “This is serious,” she said. “We
don’t want to have another outbreak. None of us can afford to be closed
for another two months.”
We’ve always liked and trusted Conn, but no one we saw in the
beer garden – either customer or employee – was wearing a mask during a
recent visit on a warm afternoon. Yes, masks can be hot and fog up
glasses. But they’re a small price to pay for the chance to socialize,
and they send a message: We’re all in this together, and we care. Please
wear them.
Lincoln Memorial Garden and Nature Center
Though the nature center building has been closed, there are still
acres to explore at the lake area woodland and prairie preserve. Many
have been able to enjoy the coming of spring there, regardless of
needing to otherwise stay home. Considered a living memorial to Abraham
Lincoln, the land was developed with trails and stone rings which have
been used for weddings and other events. While the center urges social
distancing and that gatherings be postponed, the trails remain open. The
garden sprang to life in the 1930s, in conjunction with the creation of
Lake Springfield. It was designed by Jens Jensen, a highly regarded
landscape architect of the Prairie School style. The site has always
relied on the passion of garden and wildlife enthusiasts and volunteers.
If anything, it seems to be gaining popularity, and will live on as one
of Springfield’s best-loved and enduring areas to enjoy nature.
Copper Pot Cooking Studio
Denise
Perry opened Copper Pot Cooking Studio four years ago to teach cooking
classes to kids and adults. Her 10-person classes focused on cuisines
and cultures not normally found in Springfield. She plans to resume
classes once the region reaches Phase 5, but in the meantime, she’s
adapted her classes to an online format.
In
an effort to adapt and share her skills with the community, Perry
offered weekly Facebook Live cooking classes for families. This week,
she is transitioning to an online culinary camp for kids. For those with
a sweet tooth, Perry has a pop-up bakery the last Sunday of each month,
providing cooking kits for curbside pickup. Perry also offers virtual
cooking events for private groups.
STAGE 4: HOPE FOR THE FUTURE
Throughout
it all, there have been those who have continued to encourage and
inspire us. From health care professionals and teachers who have risen
to the challenge to businesses and nonprofits trying to meet the surge
of needs in the community, this is who has helped you get through.
DOCTOR Dr. Nicole Florence, Memorial Medical Center Runners Up: Dr. Kenneth Schmidt, HSHS Medical Group, Dr. Michael Comerford, Memorial Physician Services
NURSE Andrea Stribling, Koke Mill Medical Associates Runners Up: Erin Parris, Koke Mill Medical Associates, Kathryn Brown, Memorial Medical Center
ENCOURAGING ARTWORK “Everything will be OK” by Dave Heinzel Runners Up: Outdoor art gallery by Felicia Olin, IT “Essentials” cover by Felicia Olin, Springfield Art Association yard art
FOR-PROFIT COMPANY GIVING BACK TO THE COMMUNITY Papo’s Cafe Runners Up: Staff Meals, Two Men and a Truck
LOCAL PUBLIC SERVANT Scott McFarland Runners Up: Governor JB Pritzker, Kristin DiCenso
NONPROFIT ORGANIZATION Community Child Care Connection Runners Up: Central Illinois Food Bank, Compass for Kids, Downtown Springfield Inc.
TEACHER WHO ADAPTED TO ONLINE LEARNING Betsy Martin (Sandburg Elementary School) Runners Up: Meghan Noll (McClernand Elementary School), Liz House (Butler Elementary School)
AN INDIVIDUAL WHO WENT ABOVE AND BEYOND DURING THIS TIME TO HELP OTHERS Lynn Ehman Runners Up: Lisa Clemmons Stott, Damon and Aidan McParland
WHO ELSE IS GOING ABOVE AND BEYOND FOR STAGE 4? Springfield Families Helping Families Facebook page Runners Up: Helping Paws, COVID-19 Response Fund for the Greater Capital Region of Illinois
Everything will be OK signs 
Springfield
resident Dave Heinzel wanted to put his creative talents to use during
the early days of the stay-at-home order, both to keep himself busy and
to provide encouragement to others during a stressful time. He built
wooden signs with the phrase, “Everything Will Be OK” and decorated them
with red wooden hearts. Heinzel started with one sign in his own front
yard and then created a Facebook page on March 25, offering to install a
sign in the yard of anyone who requested one. The handmade signs proved
to be so popular that he was soon overwhelmed with requests, and he set
up a donation page for people who were willing to contribute toward the
cost of materials. He also partnered with Miles T-Shirts to sell
T-shirts with the same slogan, with proceeds going to the COVID-19
Response Fund created by the Community Foundation for the Land of
Lincoln and United Way of Central Illinois. Heinzel said he received
hundreds of requests for signs, but for the sake of his sanity and his
family, he decided to stop once he had produced 200 signs. In a
statement on the Facebook page, he said, “Thank you to everyone who has
reached out, offered support and encouragement, and donated to help
cover the cost of materials. Hang in there – we are all in this
together!”
Community Child Care Connection
For
30 years, the Community Child Care Connection (CCCC) has administered
child care programs through contracts with the Department of Human
Services, as well as educated and trained child care providers. When
tasked with administering the Prioritized Essential Worker Program,
available to priority workers who cannot work from home, CCCC stepped
up, helping to find and fund available child care in centers and homes.
On top of that, CCCC used technology to successfully transition to
zero-contact child care assistance.
Executive
director Erica Romines remarked, “I would like to thank our early
childhood educators and our child care providers. They’ve really stuck
up for our children and families during this time.”
Betsy Martin (Sandburg Elementary School)
Multiple
parents told us that Betsy Martin went above and beyond in adjusting to
online learning for her kindergarten class. She made a “Flat Betsy” and
mailed a laminated one in a letter to every student, suggesting the
kids take “Flat Betsy” on adventures and write journals about what they
did with her. One
parent said, “She tried to make lessons fun and encouraged the kids to
practice their skills in unique ways. She truly cares about her students
and ending the year without getting to say goodbye was truly
heartbreaking for her. She deserves recognition for the hard work and
extreme hours put in to make online learning work for her students.”
Staff pick: Black Lives Matter Processional
Take
a bow, Springfield. If anything shows that there’s love in the capital
city, it came in the form of a Black Lives Matter automobile parade
around the Sangamon County courthouse and environs on May 31. Organizers
were expecting 300 vehicles. The cops estimated that 3,000 showed up,
so many that the route had to be lengthened on the fly. It was sunny.
Police and organizers stood together in intersections, working together
to direct traffic. Horns honked while James Brown and Public Enemy
wafted through open windows. Although the subject was serious, smiles
were everywhere: At least for one day, it seemed, the town was together
in a way that it hasn’t been together in a very long time. “Crown Vic’s
matter!” someone shouted at an officer whose ride parked in mid-street
began billowing steam while antifreeze poured onto the pavement. The cop
laughed. There were no bullhorns, no tear gas clouds, no spray paint
artists, just a mass of people – more than a lot of folks thought
possible – who showed that they cared, not just about racism, but about
public health: You could be here without worry of getting sick. It was
good to see so many people of all ages, and their presence delivered a
powerful message: We need change.
