Page 1

To get fresh teachers, grow your own
A few years ago, someone in the Chicago public school system came up with a brilliant way to help Riley Higgins, who was then about 3 years old and living in Springfield. Why would anyone in the Chicago public school system give a fig about a preschooler in Springfield? The truth is they didn’t.

Senate stomps Durbin’s bill to help strapped homeowners
Sam Rayburn, a longtime speaker of the U.S. House, once said, “Every now and then, a politician ought to do something just because it’s right.” Last week, 45 U.S. senators dodged an excellent chance to do just what Mr. Sam advised. At issue was a straightforward, common-sense amendment proposed by Dick Durbin, D-Ill.

LETTERS
We estimate that we shredded around 6,500 pounds of paper on Saturday. Since all of the paper is 100 percent recycled, this equates to saving approximately 55 trees, 22,750 gallons of water and 10 cubic yards of landfill space. Thanks, and I look forward to working with you again.

friendquotepoem # 17
I’d love to visit but this time of the year I’m knee deep in seedlings and planting stuff tomorrow I’m getting 25 trees last week I planted 15 blueberry bushes and a bunch of fruit trees add to that a one-eyed horse I recently adopted named him jack and a brooding hen I’m trying to keep the rooster from bothering so for a while I’m pretty tied up.

Other states aren’t great at regulating campaign contributions
Editorial writers, crusading columnists and reformers say it all the time: Illinois is one of only a small handful of states which does not regulate campaign contributions. That’s technically true, but you might be surprised at how little some other states actually regulate those contributions.

TAILOR-MADE FILM FOR TV
Mike Welch, Rachelle McCubbin, Suzanne Parris, Denise McIntire, Kimmie Sue,.

BIKE IT. YOU MAY LIKE IT.
What’s the fun in just walking, running, or biking to work? The Springfield-Sangamon County Regional Planning Commission is making things interesting with the Curb Your Car on Bike to Work Day challenge on Friday, May 15.

Attorney General gets tough with craigslist
Illinois Attorney General Lisa Madigan traveled to New York last week to deliver this message to craigslist chief executive officer Jim Buckmaster: remove your Web site’s erotic services section.

SAY A LITTLE PRAYER
Strong, who is the featured speaker at this year’s breakfast, says praying regularly over the course of his football career made a huge difference in his both his professional and personal life. “I just noticed I’m a different person when I pray as opposed to when I don’t,” Strong tells Cap City.

Out of tune
in this story loves the Illinois Symphony Orchestra. The musicians who drive hundreds of miles from every corner of this state to play for $63 per performance love the orchestra; the board members who pony up $1,000 a year for the privilege of...

Orchestra hires interim executive director
Elizabeth Hare, 54, joined the Illinois Symphony Orchestra last month as interim executive director. Although she grew up playing piano, majored in music theory and music history at Rice University, and sang in the San Francisco Symphony Chorus for more than three years, Hare says she never thought of herself as a professional musician.

How is Mary like Rod?
Here’s a conversation starter for you: What do Rod Blagojevich and Mary Lincoln have in common? (It’s not good hair.) The two are an incongruous pairing: an impeached former governor known for his wire-tapped expletives and a refined, widowed former first lady of the nation.

Give peas a chance
Growing up on a produce farm, when peas were in season, I ate them every day. And I helped pick, shell and bag bushels of them for the freezer. The peas appeared on our nightly dinner table, dressed always with a bit of browned butter (beurre noisette,.

A tale of heroism in the fight against Illinois corruption
Who among us would have thought of the little east central Illinois town of Paris as a major location for drug dealing and criminal activity? It is hard to believe Paris, Ill., is the site of the national Mafia Pizza Connection Case, in which Rudy Giuliani prosecuted Paris resident Joe Vitale and others.

Star Trek: A bold reboot
If Abrams’ film is weak in any area, it is that it does not take on any important social issue, as the original series did. It’s more intent on providing a grand space opera, which it does with a sense of reckless abandon. The quickly-put-together crew of the Enterprise, which includes standbys Dr.

Movie times
Kerasotes listings are for Friday, May 14 through Wednesday, May 20. All times are subject to change. Bracketed times indicate Sat and Sun matinees. Note, Parkway Pointe plays no late shows Sun-Wed, and the first show Fri, Mon-Thu is 3:40 p.m. ShowPlace East plays no late shows Sun-Thu.

Moonlight and music in May
Won’t you join me in celebrating the middle of May by participating in the varied and diverse collection of exciting events offered to our community by various organizations and performers for your entertainment satisfaction.

PUB CRAWL
Girard. 10pm-2am The Mule Kickers with The Moonlight Rhythm Rangers.

BAND SPOTLIGHT
The band Enamel, formed around the songwriting of singer-guitarist Kevin Wasmer, includes drummer Sam Ganci and the latest member, added in September of 2008, bassist Nathan Fenoglio. Recent Enamel-related endeavors include concentrating on building a fan base in the St.

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

ART
Three of Springfield’s downtown streets will be blocked off this weekend to make way for booths of art surrounding the Old Capitol building, featuring more than 150 artists. Their original works, in the form of jewelry, sculpture, photography, glassware, pottery, wood, metalwork, oils, watercolors and other media, are available for purchase.

FESTIVALS
The air stirs with the feeling of the isles and all things Celtic during the Springfield Highland Games and Celtic Festival. Athletes from across the country compete in the caber toss, rugby and other ancient games.

CHILDREN
The Springfield Park district hosts its Annual Summer Jamboree to kick off the summer season at Lincoln Park this Saturday. For no cost, the entire family can learn about the programs and facilities available to them throughout the upcoming summer season and kids can participate in several fun activities.

FESTIVALS
The Illinois Grape Growers and Vintners Association, Downtown Springfield Inc. and the Old Capitol Foundation will showcase 20 wineries from across the state at the Art of Illinois Wine Garden Festival in conjunction with the Old Capitol Art Fair on Saturday and Sunday.

PUBLIC NOTICES
NOTICE UNDER ASSUMED BUSINESS NAME ACT STATE OF ILLINOIS COUNTY OF SANGAMON TO WHOM IT MAY CONCERN: Notice is hereby given that on the 22nd day of April, 2009 a Certificate of Ownership of business was filed in the Office of the County Clerk of Sangamon County, stating that MARY LOU ANN WASHINGTON WALLACE J.

Real Estate Foreclosures
IN THE CIRCUIT COURT FOR THE SEVENTH JUDICIAL CIRCUIT OF ILLINOIS SANGAMON COUNTY, SPRINGFIELD, ILLINOIS FIRST FINANCIAL BANK, NA, Plaintiff, vs. REALTY EXECU- TIVES UNLIMITED, LLC, an Illinois Limited Liability Company, DENNIS L. POLK as Sole Owner and Member of REALTY EXECUTIVES UNLIM- ITED, LLC.

NEWS QUIRKS
New York City police looking for a man who tried to rob a bank but left with no cash spotted a man fitting the suspect’s description waiting in line at another bank. Just as the man was hanging the teller a hold-up note, Officers Michael Gonzalez and George Billaverde walked up and arrested Mark Mcnulty, 55.

THE ADVICE GODDESS
My boyfriend wants to marry me. I love him, but settling down with one person seriously concerns me. The only times I ever feel like getting married are fleeting moments when I feel insecure. I love serial monogamy. I’m 36, and have enjoyed these consistently fulfilling two-year relationships since high school.