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A mom’s gratitude
Thank you for your article on the fertility clinic at Southern Illinois University [see “Making babies possible,” by Amanda Robert, Jan. 22]. I am a former patient of Dr. J. Ricardo Loret de Mola and with his help, I conceived a son. Five years later I had a daughter (on our own). I owe Dr. Loret de Mola my entire gratitude of thanks! Your city is lucky to have him. Without him and his staff I would never have had the ability to conceive a child.

Tracy Maloney Elyria, Ohio

From East Springfield
I applaud Gail Simpson’s efforts to bring East Springfield into the public eye. However, we already have an abundance of housing, which has deflated housing prices. Why don’t people want to live here? I can think of two reasons: quality of life issues and negative stereotypes.

I have owned a house in East Springfield for nine years. I’d rather live here than anywhere else. I know my friendly neighbors. Bus stops and a grocery store are nearby. The small town atmosphere of everyone helping out and being nice abounds. I am in no danger of losing my house when my payment is $200/month.

The reality of living here is much different than screamed from the headlines. I know people who will not come here because they are afraid of being shot, which is utterly ridiculous. People are outside working and hanging out, children run around and play. I don’t ever worry about being shot. In 2007, the murder rate was the same as the vehicular accident death rate. You’re as likely to be shot in East Springfield as you are to die in a car wreck driving to the mall. Crumbling infrastructure is an issue. Roads are filled with potholes, sewers are filled with garbage, sidewalks are nonexistent. Green spaces are few and far between. Springfield can spend millions on a suburban park within walking distance for hardly anyone, but neighborhood parks are quite beneficial to housing prices and quality of life, and would be a tremendous asset to East Springfield, not to mention something for children to do besides watch TV or get themselves in trouble. With all the vacant lots here, a project like Will Allen’s Growing Power could grow. Rich soil plus low start-up costs equals entrepreneurial enterprises. Food, especially organic and local, is a growing market.

Neighborhood farmers markets with Link access would counteract the food desert many find themselves in. While not the answer, it is an answer. The top-down businessman approach may not be the best. It seems that the people who live in these neighborhoods would be the best to ask what improvements they can see that need to be made. No doubt, they have opinions. What they need are willing listeners. I hope the next time a meeting on East Springfield is held, it will be broadly advertised so that all of us have the opportunity to participate.

Carey Smith Moorman Springfield

Directors without direction
I wish you would address the change of administration that is currently going on in our state government. As a retired state employee, I would like to say that this is the base for a lot of our state’s problems. These jobs are being sold in one manner or another.

We need to have an outcry for a means to hire the directors and deputy directors that head our state departments. Every time we change governors we get a whole new set of bosses. Most of the time they do not have the education, knowledge, or experience of the people that they are over. Quite often they institute new programs that do not work and create expense and havoc, only to be changed when they sell that job to someone new. Like the federal government, we should have a civil service system where people are hired and promoted through a panel based on education, knowledge and experience.

Nancy Long Springfield

A senator’s Elkhart roots
My family is descended from former Governor Richard Oglesby — “Lincoln’s Railsplitter” — of Elkhart.

Illinois Times’ cover feature on Elkhart by Rick Wade was phenomenal [see “The view from Elkhart Hill,” March 19]. Elkhart is geographically wonderful, like its residents — past and present. Active churches, potlucks, programs for senior citizens, unique businesses and its physical beauty makes “The Hill” an Illinois treasure.

Proudly, I was married in the Elkhart cemetery chapel and my oldest daughter, Emma Gillett, is named after the Illinois First Lady who built the arched bridge that crosses the Elkhart-Mt. Pulaski road. In my office hangs a painting of Gov. Oglesby to remind me that Illinois can have intelligent people of character in its highest office.

My heartfelt thanks to your paper for recognizing Elkhart and its residents for preserving this crossroad of history. Readers should visit this town of enduring character!

Kirk W. Dillard Illinois state senator Naperville