| | | Display: News - Images - Sections What’s new at IllinoisTimesShades of grayMark Jennings spent more than 20 years serving his country in the U.S. Army Airborne. When he retired around 2002, “Sarge,” as he was known, enjoyed gardening, cooking out and bicycling, and was known for serving coffee to anyone who wanted to stop by in the morning.  July is for celebration of agitationAre you an agitator? You know, one of those people who won’t leave well enough alone, who’s always questioning authority and trying to stir things up. If so, the Powers That Be detest you — you ... you ... “agitator!” They spit the term out as a pejorative to brand anyone who dares to challenge the established order. LETTERSThis concept flies in the face of the integration people with disabilities have fought for for generations, and perpetuates a stereotype we have battled all our lives. politicopoem #7the battle’s o’er? there ain’t no more? she’s gone home sore?. Quinn learns to play the blame gameAs with any state legislative overtime session and possible government shutdown, “Job One” right now is making sure somebody else gets the blame. Last week, Gov. Pat Quinn dramatically vetoed an appropriations bill and then held a press conference to lay full blame for the overtime deadlock at the General Assembly’s feet. Home sweet hospitalPeople who don’t like hospitals typically cite their cold, institutional feel as the reason. Officials at St. John’s Hospital clearly had this fact in mind when designing its new $8 million outpatient surgery department to be located on the hospital’s second floor. Boys & Girls Clubs shut down, other groups step upEven though Boys Girls Clubs of Central Illinois announced this week that state funding cuts would temporarily shutter its central unit, leaders hope community support and federal dollars can get their organization back on track. No strings attachedThe Illinois Symphony Orchestra has renewed its commitment to Maestra Karen Lynne Deal, announcing a new multi-year contract with the conductor at the ISO board of directors’ annual meeting in late June. The renewal comes despite concerns raised by ISO musicians who voted 72-2 against Deal earlier this year in a formal no-confidence vote. Not so fastDespite Springfield’s freedom from many of the rush-hour nightmares that plague other cities, traffic-paralyzing trains barreling through town at all the wrong times remain among the irritating facts of life here. Making the case for ‘local first’What can a 16-inch pancake do for Springfield? Plenty, said a recently formed Springfield nonprofit group last week, explaining that the unique products sold by independent businesses inject color, character and money into the local economy at a time when it needs it badly. State Fair history needs a homeWhat do you do with 156 years of photos, programs, ribbons, exhibits and other memorabilia collected from the annual Illinois State Fair? Ask Pam Gray and she’ll quickly respond, “Build a museum.” While the answer seems simple, raising the $5 million needed for the building is anything but. Argentina offers more than amorIt’s comforting to know that Illinois has some serious competition in the wacky governor sweepstakes. I feel like the folks my husband, Peter, and I met in last January in Louisiana. Whenever anyone realized we were from Illinois, they’d say something like “We really have to thank you. Public Enemies guilty of robberyCovering the years 1933-1934, the film begins with a rousing prison break as Dillinger orchestrates the unscheduled release of some old cohorts. With the intention of going to Chicago “to make some money,” the Robin Hood-like thief embarks on a crime spree that gets the attention of FBI director J. Movie timesKerasotes listings are for Friday, July 10 through Tuesday, July 14. All times are subject to change. For updates on Kerasotes films, call 1-800-FANDANGO. For reviews of other films, visit www.illinoistimes.com.. Hail the Great American TaxiBack in March of 2005, Vince Herman and Chris Staehly needed a band to play for a Rainforest Action Group benefit concert in Boulder, Colo. The two musicians put together Great American Taxi and have been riding in the cab with the meter running ever since. PUB CRAWLThe Odyssey Jazz Quartet Featuring John Sluzalis, Zach Radwine, AJ BAND SPOTLIGHTAre you “Certified Remedy Rocked” yet? Be sure to get your official recognition from the band at The Remedy show this weekend. THE CALENDARSubmit calendar listings at www.illinoistimes.com. BEVERAGESRemember those photographs of celebrities wearing milk moustaches? Here is your chance to snag your best milk mustache smile in a photograph while sampling local dairy milk from Deans Foods and Prairie Farms. ARTYou may have seen her paintings around town of the queen and king of hearts, diamonds, spades or clubs. Local artist Felicia Olin’s recent acrylics and mixed media pieces, including the work above titled, Love and Poetry #4,. PUBLIC NOTICESNOTICE UNDER ASSUMED BUSINESS NAME ACT STATE OF ILLINOIS COUNTY OF SANGAMON TO WHOM IT MAY CONCERN: Notice is hereby given that on the 18th day of June, 2009 a Certificate of Ownership of business was filed in the Office of the County Clerk of Sangamon County, stating that JERALD E. Real Estate ForeclosuresIN THE CIRCUIT COURT FOR THE 7TH JUDICIAL CIRCUIT SANGAMON COUNTY — SPRINGFIELD, ILLINOIS WELLS FARGO BANK, N.A. NEWSQUIRKSThree British burglars broke into a house in Leeds and made off with a $2,900 plasma television, but their getaway van got stuck, forcing them to flee empty-handed. THEADVICEGODDESSI checked my boyfriend’s online history (okay, invaded his privacy) and saw he’d been looking up porn all day yesterday and the day before while home with the flu. I freaked! We’d talked about porn before. He said he watched it in his younger days, but didn’t anymore, so I was surprised. Loading writers... Loading ads... Loading comments... NEWSQUIRKS Curses, foiled again
Three British burglars broke into a house in Leeds and made off with a $2,900 plasma television, but their getaway van got stuck, forcing them to flee empty-handed. London’s Daily Express reported police had no trouble identifying Christopher Lister, 21, as one of the culprits, however, since the crime occurred in broad daylight, and witnesses recognized Lister, who stands 7 feet 4 inches tall. Slightest provocation
One homeless man smacked another homeless man in the face with a skateboard while the two men were discussing “quantum physics and the splitting of atoms,” according to prosecutors in Redwood City, Calif. Deputy District Attorney Sharon Cho said that at some point Jason Everett Keller, 40, got upset by the conversation and hit Stephen Fava with the skateboard, splitting his lip, but the jury acquitted him because they “just felt unable to really know what happened out there.” When vibrate just won’t do
Tennis player-spokesmodel Maria Sharapova unveiled a dress designed to light up when the wearer’s cell phone rings. Reuters reported that British fashion student Georgie Davis, 20, created the dress as part of a school project with phone maker Sony Ericsson to incorporate new technology and fashion. The dress is designed to connect to the wearer’s phone so she can be alerted in the noisiest of places, Davis said, noting, “When you’re in a pub or a bar, you can never, ever hear your phone.” California in crisis Los Angeles County taxpayers have been paying $1.5 million a year to keep 8,000 old telephone lines active, according to auditors, who said they expect that the number of lines and the amount will double by the time they complete their investigation. The phone lines may never have served any legitimate government purpose, such as one registered to a now-defunct Hollywood ticket brokerage that the county paid the bill for for the past 14 years. “This is government at its worst,” County Supervisor Zev Zaroslavsky told the Los Angeles Times. Leader of the flock
Police found 53 baby birds in the bedroom of a 15-year-old boy in Longmont, Colo. Sgt. Dave Orr said the boy took the hatchlings, including barn swallows, sparrows and a bluebird, from nests near his home and kept them until his mother realized he had them and notified animal control. Forty of the birds died. Compiled from the nation’s press by Roland Sweet. Submit items, citing date and source, to P.O. Box 8130, Alexandria VA 22306. |
