Nelson’s Catering of Springfield was founded in 1995 and began operations from the back of the Williamsville IGA, using a single pickup truck with a camper top to service clients. The business has grown substantially from its humble beginnings and is celebrating its 30th anniversary with a new barbecue menu, online ordering and a continued […]
David Blanchette
David Blanchette has been involved in journalism since 1979, first as an award-winning broadcaster, then a state government spokesperson, and now as a freelance writer and photographer. He was involved in the development of the Abraham Lincoln Presidential Library and Museum and more recently the Jacksonville Area Museum. David and his wife, Sue, live in Petersburg.
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Urban farming in Jacksonville
Juan Caballero plants seeds a little differently than most people. “I use my finger to make a hole in the potted soil and that way I can judge how deep the seed will go,” Caballero said. “When I’m in the potting room sometimes I would rather have the light off than on, but it depends […]
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Q&A with Karen Conn
Karen Conn has made it her life’s mission to preserve history through hospitality, which is the motto of Conn’s Hospitality Group. She first began working for the family-owned business at just 15 years old, then became a part owner in 1986 and a primary owner in 1996. Conn attended Lincoln Land Community College before transferring […]
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Nonprofits struggle to serve Springfield students
Fundraising efforts have provided a reprieve to two Springfield nonprofit organizations that operate after-school and summer-learning programs in the community. But those programs will serve fewer children this year, and there’s no guarantee that the same level of after-school and summer-learning services will be available once the donated money runs out. The Boys and Girls […]
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The future of electric vehicles
Electrons are gradually replacing hydrocarbons as the propulsive power of choice for many Americans as electric-powered vehicles continue to make inroads with the motoring public. According to Kelly Blue Book, electric vehicle (EV) car and pickup truck sales reached 1.3 million in 2024, which is a 7.3% increase from 2023. EVs made up 8.7% of […]
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Q&A With Kathy Nichelson
Kathy Nichelson has worked for Capital Area Realtors for the past 30 years, serving as the CEO for the last six years. She obtained her Realtor Certified Executive designation 10 years ago. Nichelson and her spouse live in rural Girard, and she has two adult sons and three young grandchildren. In her free time, she […]
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Tiny houses project faces big hurdles
A nonprofit that wants to build tiny homes on Springfield’s southeast side faces more big hurdles after the Springfield City Council on Feb. 11 unanimously voted to withdraw a resolution to commit funding for the project’s resource center. Ward 2 Ald. Shawn Gregory, who represents the area where the homes would be built, said he […]
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Q&A With Amy Rasing
Amy Rasing joined the city’s Office of Planning and Economic Development in 2023 as a grant manager. In December, Mayor Misty Buscher nominated her as the new director of OPED, and her appointment was confirmed Jan. 7 by the Springfield City Council. She has worked more than 30 years in nonprofit agencies on the local, […]
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Q&A with Molly Berns
Molly Berns is a Sangamon County native who is retiring this month as executive director of the Springfield-Sangamon County Regional Planning Commission. She joined the SSCRPC in 2008 as the senior planner for land use and was promoted to her current position in 2018. Berns has a bachelor’s degree in communications and a master’s degree […]
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50 years of Massie Massie & Associates
Kent and Sue Massie found a surprise when they designed and oversaw the renovation of the Lincoln Park lagoon in Springfield. “We needed to excavate the ponds because they were filled with silt, and we discovered old bicycles and park light fixtures at the bottom of the lagoon,” Sue said. “The old light fixtures had […]
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UIS Performing Arts Center to close temporarily
Sangamon Auditorium and the UIS Studio Theatre, housed within University of Illinois Springfield’s Public Affairs Center building, will temporarily close starting in June 2025 for an extensive, state-funded, 15-month plumbing improvement project that will address ongoing issues with the facility’s 50-year-old infrastructure. Plans call for the auditorium and theater to reopen following the completion of […]
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Asking the public for help
Several local small businesses, faced with plummeting sales entering this holiday season due to unforeseen circumstances, have turned to a new method of keeping the doors open – pleas for help from the public. A growing number of small business owners have recently posted heartfelt pleas on social media about not being able to pay […]