"What has been your favorite summer vacation?"

NAME: Bill Cunningham

Simple Words

Being the H&R Special Projects Editor means I work on some 40 to 50 publications  (including six Limited Editions) a year. One of my favorite projects, in spite of it being one of my biggest, is heading-up a team for our yearly Outlook section. Outlook, for those of you who aren’t familiar with it, is four sections of stories highlighting all of the great people and places throughout the Herald & Review’s circulation area.

Pat Mohan takes his quest for knowledge into retirement

As Pat Mohan discusses his career path of the past 30-plus years, most of which has been spent with A.E. Staley/Tate & Lyle, he highlights more than jobs and geographic locations, impressive though they are. And though he might have the right, he doesn’t expound upon his accomplishments in great detail.

Just Cuz!

In a nod to an old Sister Sledge song, “We Are Family,” my daughters and their girl cousins have always addressed each other affectionately as “Sledgie.” My kids and most of their cousins grew up in the same town. They have always been as close as brothers and sisters. Even as adults they spend more time with each other than they do with many of their friends, and are best friends as well as relatives.

Seven questions with Judy Taylor

St. Louis native Judy Taylor has been the Executive Director for the Decatur Public Schools Foundation since February 2004. Prior to that, her work history included stints as the Corporate Events Director for the American Heart Association; Director of Membership Services for the Greater Decatur Chamber of Commerce; Administrative Assistant for the Community Investment Corporation of Decatur; Executive Director for the Decatur Senior Center; and the Volunteer Coordinator for Dove, Inc.

Ron Drane's focus on taking care of the client

Competition is one of the biggest challenges Ron Drane faces…but not in the traditional sense of the word. Drane, executive vice president of Wealth Management at Busey Bank, is continually striving to build strong relationships and help clients to trust the financial services of Busey who may have had negative experience with another adviser in the financial investment field previously.

Enjoying the beauty of Venice

If, when you think of Venice, Italy, you picture a gondola floating romantically down a canal with a gondolier in black and white stripes and a musician singing Italian love songs…you are exactly right.

Darren Miller pursues his passion for sculpting

Darren Miller spent much of his life forming a belief system and honing skills that prepared him to be the sculptor he is today. Christian Scientist, table saw builder, entrepreneur and artist, Miller has drawn upon his many life experiences to create the curving lines of the metal pieces that must, as he says, each have their own essence.

Lon Lugten's quest to conquer an imperfect game

Golf is a strange game. To the outsider, it may look ridiculously easy, but when they make the attempt to play it, they will discover the difficulties, the frustrations and perhaps the blood, sweat and tears it takes to become even an average player.

The role of antioxidants in staying healthy

It happens while we sleep, while we work and while we play. Every day, our bodies quietly fight a battle against enemies that sneak into our bodies in ways we might not consider. Once inside, they do their worst, attacking us at the cellular level and contributing to everything from wrinkles to cancer.

Organic foods grow in popularity

As the push toward “going green” is picking up steam around the country and world, more and more people are opting to consume organic products whenever possible, both for their personal health and for positive environmental impact.

Healthy tips for grilling

Summertime is full of seasonal sights, sounds and smells, and one of those is the sizzle of the outdoor grill. Grilling out, when done safely and healthily, can be a great way to add nutrition to your diet as well as enjoy a nice meal outside with family or friends.

What children can learn from horses

The veterinarian for the Barnum and Bailey Circus once told me that the most dangerous animal he handled was the horse—not because a horse is inherently dangerous, but because we never trust other animals like we trust horses. We would never consider climbing on a tiger’s back, for example.

Warm-up To Art This Summer

The real voyage of discovery consists not in seeking new landscapes but in having new eyes. -- Marcel Proust (1871-1922)