Impactful. Intentional. Professional. Dignified. Those are a few words that describe Pat Hemmett’s reach into East Central Illinois life. I met Pat in 1992. By that time, she was 8 years in to having started an adult basic education program in the counties that cover the Lake Land College district. In the program’s infancy, she …
On the opening weekend of professional football in 2021, I look back. One of my recent reads is Red Grange, the Life and Legacy of the NFL’s first superstar, by football historian Chris Willis. This 2019 biography takes a fresh look at the first person to capitalize on his college and professional football prowess. It …
Recently our library hosted a 4-day Art In Literature program for children ages 5 to 8. One perk of my job is the opportunity to observe classes like this one. Retired art teacher Jamie Willis led the sessions with assistance from volunteer and library board member Phyllis Karpus along with library staff support from Adriane …
Having driven for miles alongside cattle, ranches and lightly populated areas, the mind shifts with the terrain. The view turns from one Western scene to another. Around each corner, a new postcard. The expectation grows until there, front and center, rest the Grand Tetons. The peaks display nature’s beauty and force. There is a sense …
Fourteen Seventeen Nineteen Twenty-One Twenty-Two Twenty-Four Many years ago Uncle Bryant readily cited the birth years for himself and his five siblings, which included my father. I don’t remember the context but I’ve remembered the years. A notable item about the six Walworth children is they all received at least a bachelor’s degree; several earned …
On the road, lunching alone, a table across the way caught my eye. Four women, all past 65, enjoying food and friendship in a comfortable setting. Their lunch date likely was planned for days, if not a week or more. Each one carefully planned out the morning to prepare. They were well dressed like going …
I ran the half marathon Saturday at Allerton Park outside Monticello, my fourth half marathon in as many years. Part of my motivation for my first Allerton run was the opportunity to enjoy the park’s beauty, its nature and a sunny spring morning. I was pleased with what I saw, though not my finish time. …
In flying home from Seattle recently, I was treated to an uncommon bright, sunny day that showed brilliance of Mt. Rainier and the Cascade Mountains. Our pilot spoke to the passengers, saying not to miss the scene below. He called it “breathtaking.” Also enjoyable during the trip was experiencing an overcast, damp day with an …
Approaching Route 112 in northern New Hampshire, we find a local eatery offering local fare and friendly service. One disappointment is that on a weekday in October the ice cream shop is closed. Across the street is a fire hall that sits along a two-lane highway that slices through town. We are reminded that once …
Leaving the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, I was surprised that our visit took some 4.5 hours, and easily could have been longer. You have to pull yourself away, for example, when sitting in a theater watching a famous concert that holds your attention as it goes on and on. From a writing/display standpoint, …