Building permits – April 27 to May 3
Illinois Department of Natural Resources received a commercial remodel permit for 308 E. Lawrence Ave. Contractor is Michael Von Behren Builder, Inc., and the project is valued at $150,000. Michael Wittle received a commercial remodel permit for 1939 Sangamon Ave. Contractor is Michael Whittle and the project is valued at $20,000. Satipatthana Vipassana Association received…
Richard’s Family Restaurant
Richard’s Family Restaurant is the latest diner to open in Springfield and is a most welcome addition to the genre. Located on Ninth Street, just south of North Grand Avenue, Richard’s operates in the space formerly occupied by Homestyle Café. Homestyle had gotten a little long in the tooth, but Richard’s started with a deep…
Military Families Together meets the needs of local veterans
“Thank you for your service” is often said when encountering a member of the military or a veteran, given the many sacrifices involved. Military service can bring challenges and financial hardships for military families. When Mike and Shelly Pawelczak attended their son’s graduation from Marine boot camp in August 2022, they were grateful they had…
Conflict resolution handled well leads to positive outcomes
When employees don’t click: Curing workplace conflict Conflict at work is inevitable, and apparently very frequent, as I’ve been asked to advise on three different situations in the past month. It’s surprising how bad chemistry can happen even among experienced professionals. Differences in personality, communication style, values or work pace can collide — sometimes quietly,…
Practicing law is nothing like it looks on TV
Myth versus reality All too often, people’s perceptions and beliefs about lawyers and the practice of law are formed from watching any number of TV shows. Television law emphasizes high-stakes drama, surprise evidence and rapid courtroom victories, while the reality involves months of methodical, behind-the-scenes research, negotiations and settlements. Real lawyers rarely rely on theatrical…
U of I law students turn AI into a legal-tech startup
The rapid rise of generative AI tools such as ChatGPT has forced educators into a difficult position: How should students be using this technology? Some institutions have moved to restrict it, while others are experimenting with ways to integrate it into the classroom. At the University of Illinois College of Law, a group of entrepreneurs…
A post-pandemic reset in local staffing
Express Employment Professionals’ Kayla Edwards, the managing partner overseeing the Springfield, Jacksonville and Bloomington locations, sees a post-pandemic reset in staffing. “After a period of elevated demand and fluctuation coming out of the pandemic, the staffing industry is seeing a more balanced and sustainable phase,” she said. “Employers are once again able to focus on…
Q&A with Gordon Gates
Gordon Gates is the managing partner of Springfield law firm Gates, Wise, Schlosser & Goebel and plans to retire at the end of May. He has a degree in business from University of Iowa and a juris doctorate from Northern Illinois University College of Law. Gates moved to Springfield following his law school graduation in…
