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Give me Liberty or give me my identity
Normally, if somebody offered to bring me a sack of trash, I’d find a polite way to say no thanks. But when Glenn Sisco called me, his trash sounded intriguing. The way he described it, he was at work and decided to step outside for a smoke break.

The high cost of limbo at Springfield High
Springfield School District 186 is expected to receive $8.5 million in federal stimulus money. Though there appear to be limitations and guidelines are yet to be developed, district officials have been reported as wishing to spend some funds on computer labs.

“Too big to fail” is too big — period
As skiers and backcountry hikers know, a whiteout is a blizzard that’s so intense that those caught in it can’t even see the blizzard. That’s how I think of the Wall Street bailout now swirling around us.

kidquote poem # 9
if you want to you can call me nocturnal.

GREEN HOTEL
We’ve heard folks say that green is the new black, but we didn’t realize the adage was going to take Springfield by storm. We celebrated the capital city’s first certified green building (the Illinois Municipal Electric Agency headquarters) in January and expect to see the second when Erin’s Pavilion at Southwind Park opens this summer.

EYES STILL ON THE PRIZE
It’s official. Kevin Smith and his gang of automotive aficionados announced this week that they’ve been accepted as contenders in the Progressive Automotive X Prize — an international competition that challenges 111 teams from 25 states and 11 countries to build a fast, inexpensive, 100-mile-per-gallon car.

Alderman objects to tactics aimed at hiring minority police
Why would we interview and hire the first 30 on there, but we’re not going to talk to the last 20 that are equally qualified?” City communications director Ernie Slottag says Springfield tests annually for the police department and every two years for the fire department.

City council still searching for money to fix streets
It’s been five months since the city of Springfield created a subcommittee on infrastructure and began asking residents for input on crumbling sidewalks and streets, but aldermen are still unsure about which areas need the most attention and how the fixes will be funded.

The man who emptied death row
November 8, 1994, the day George Ryan was reelected secretary of state, Ricardo Guzman, a Mexican native, was driving a truck on I-94 near Milwaukee. A bracket over a mud flap assembly dangled from the rear of his truck. Other truckers tried to warn him over their CB radios, but Guzman understood no English.

School band blues
Springfield’s rich band music history, instruction began in elementary school. By middle school, concert bands performed intermediate literature and pep bands played at sporting events. By high school, committed players were winning top honors in state music contests.

Rent or buy, new or used?
It will soon be time for fifth graders’ families to sign up for middle school band, and families who have arranged for their own instruments, whether by renting or purchasing, will have first choice when it comes to section assignments.

Celebrating spring, southern Indian style
Nana was not overweight, but her German ancestry showed in her sturdy frame. Her prim and proper mother always bought or made Nana’s dresses a size too large because she “had long arms.” She laughingly told me, “I’d been married for years before I realized my arms weren’t especially long — mother did that because my bust was big.

Pinch pennies and grow carrots at the same time
Gardening can be a low-cost activity or an expensive hobby. In these difficult economic times gardening is receiving newfound interest. So how can we enjoy gardening without breaking the bank? My mother and grandmother were able to garden on a shoestring while providing an abundance of food.

Furious is running on empty; Sunshine needs a polish
What with rapid-fire cutting and far too many reaction shots of the drivers, the car chases here are a product of cinematic sleight of hand and distraction, rather than closing off some streets and laying a lot of rubber on the road.

Movie times
Kerasotes listings are for Friday, Apr 10 through Thursday, Apr 16. All times are subject to change. Bracketed show times indicate Saturday and Sunday matinees. For updates on Kerasotes films, call 1-800-FANDANGO. Reviews of other films can be found at.

The adventures of Marina V
For the last several years Russian-born singersongwriter Marina V always scheduled a stop in Springfield for a visit and a show right around the Christmas holiday. During her 2007 yuletide stopover, the MacMurray College graduate ended up in the hospital with emergency gallbladder removal surgery.

BAND SPOTLIGHT
Unless you’re a die-hard indie-rock fan it’s not likely you’ve heard of Calvin Johnson or Ian Svenious or their latest bands, The Hive Dwellers and Chain and the Gang. Johnson used to front the Beat Happenings and started K Records, a label based in Olympia, Wash.

PUB CRAWL
8:30pm-12:30am. The Station 10 Year Anniversary Show with 56 Hope Rd.

MUSIC
Pat DiNizio, lead singer and rhythm guitarist for the Smithereens, rolls into Springfield Thursday night as one stop in his second countrywide living room concert tour. Taking to the road years ago in a neverdone-before manner for someone with a certain level of national recognition, he performed in people’s homes and backyards.

THE CALENDAR
Submit calendar listings at www.illinoistimes.com.

DANCE
Under the dynamic leadership of Artistic Director Jim Vincent, Hubbard Street Dance Chicago is among the most original forces in contemporary dance.

PUBLIC NOTICES
IN THE CIRCUIT COURT OF THE FOURTH JUDICIAL CIRCUIT CHRISTIAN COUNTY, ILLINOIS In the Matter of the name change of: MICHAEL STEPHEN ROSA Case No. 09MR28 NOTICE OF HEARING Please be advised on May 19, 2009 at 9:00 a.m.

MUSIC
Get ready to be transported back in time as The Del Moroccos blow into town next Friday. Described as sizzling, charismatic and powerful, this eight-piece rock ’n’ roll band from Chicago, which includes twin saxes and keyboard fronted by three female...

Real Estate Foreclosures
IN THE CIRCUIT COURT FOR THE 7TH JUDICIAL CIRCUIT SANGAMON COUNTY — SPRINGFIELD, ILLINOIS NATIONAL CITY BANK,PLAIN- TIFF VS ALICIA M. GRADY; UNKNOWN HEIRS AND LEGATEES OF ALI- CIA M.

NEWSQUIRKS
Police investigating the theft of $400,000 worth of prescription drugs from a pharmacy in Upper Darby, Pa., had few leads until a man called to say he was concerned because he saw keys in the trunk of his neighbor’s car.

THEADVICEGODDESS
A year ago, I snooped in my boyfriend’s e-mail and discovered he’d tried to get his old girlfriend to agree to a booty call. She said no, but the fact that he tried and would’ve thrown away our relationship for one go at her crushed me. I tried to think of us as temporary, and enjoy the moments.