Arriel Williams plans to open 7’s Groceries on Nov. 1 at the location formerly occupied by Save-A-Lot on Clear Lake Avenue, and he says a $100,000 business grant from the city of Springfield will be “extremely important” to his future success. “It’s helping me out a lot,” Williams, 50, a Springfield resident and native, said […]
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How to know when it’s time to retire
I’ll never forget one respected colleague’s lament a few years after he retired from University of Illinois Springfield. “I think I stayed two years too long,” he commented. He had contributed so much as a faculty member and administrator and enlightened many of us, particularly on issues of diversity. But as he watched new faculty […]
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The secret to staying young
A banana every morning, along with a glass of milk, and some pickleball in the afternoon. For Donald Taft, at least, this is his recommended elixir to older people who want to keep drinking from the fountain of youth. At 93, the longtime Springfield restaurateur is believed to be the oldest active pickleball player in […]
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State launches 10-year plan to improve seniors’ lives
The state of Illinois is in the early months of implementing an ambitious 10-year plan in which multiple state agencies, local governments and the private sector will collaborate to make life better for older adults and their caregivers. If all goes as planned, caregivers will have more resources, older adults will enjoy more affordable and […]
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Quality of life is part of good care
For more than 20 years, I’ve brought music and movement into senior-living communities, serving people of all ages and abilities. This has taught me that almost everyone can participate. We simply have to give people the opportunity to do it in their own way. I have watched people dance from their chairs when standing was […]
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Live2Lead to hold Springfield event
Central Illinois employers, nonprofit leaders, educators and rising professionals are invited to Live2Lead Springfield 2026, a one-day leadership experience at Erin’s Pavilion in Southwind Park on Friday, Nov. 13. Doors open at 8 a.m. for networking and the program runs from 8:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. Hosted locally by LeadershipDNA and powered by Maxwell Leadership, […]
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Rich Solomon receives Trailblazer Award
The Abraham Lincoln Council, Scouting America presented its prestigious Trailblazer Award to Rich Solomon, chair of the board and CEO of Solomon Colors, at a Sept. 8 dinner at Erin’s Pavilion at Southwind Park. The Trailblazer Award was established in 2010 to honor a member of the central Illinois community who exemplifies the attributes the […]
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Career Connections
The Greater Springfield Chamber of Commerce is looking for area professionals to join its new Career Connections program to work with high school students exploring their future opportunities. Career Connections is a database hosted on the Chamber’s website where area students and counselors can find a local professional to interview about their career and educational path. Students will be able […]
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Beer, Brats & Beginnings to highlight brewery’s connection to medical district
The closure of Reisch Brewery in 1966 ultimately helped facilitate the creation of Southern Illinois University School of Medicine a few years later, an unusual connection that will be highlighted at a Beer, Brats & Beginnings event on Thursday, Sept. 10. The Reisch Brewery opened in 1849 and for 117 years operated on the exact […]
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Bistro Verde at LLCC reopens
Bistro Verde, Lincoln Land Community College’s student-led café, will reopen Tuesday, Sept. 8, and will serve customers Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Thursdays from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. The café will be open as Bistro To Go, a counter service concept, from Sept. 8-Oct. 8, offering soups, salads, sandwiches, weekly student chef specials, baked goods, coffees […]
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Doris Turner joins Mid-Illinois Medical District
The Mid-Illinois Medical District has a new, but familiar, member in state Sen. Doris Turner, D-Springfield. She was nominated to serve on the commission by Mayor Misty Buscher and approved unanimously at the Aug. 5 Springfield City Council meeting. Turner tried and failed, through a total of five separate bills in the current General Assembly, […]
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Recent graduates, new arrivals seek opportunities at semi-annual career fair
Job seekers navigated through rows of prospective employers stationed at tables with pamphlets, listings of job openings and candy at the Greater Springfield Chamber of Commerce’s Fall Job Fair. Kenneth Nwume took a pause near the entrance of the fair held Aug. 25 at the Crowne Plaza Hotel. “I’m just surveying and looking around,” he […]