ReGenerationStronger in the second half of life Discover Suits for Decatur for the modern gentleman summer fun Page 5 Page 16 Helping The guidebook for grandchildren African American pay for cookbooks college Page 23 Page 12 Resilient Linda Shanklin: Community activist, recent grad, NBA mom Page 8 Summer 2021 ReGenerationFREE / Summer 2021 1 2 capitalcityregeneration.com / Summer 2021 contents ReGeneration Summer 2021 ReGeneration is the magazine for active and energetic grownups, looking for a strong second half. We reject the notion that older is weaker. This is the re- generation. Reenergized. Rededicated. Rediscovered. Real. Editor and CEO Fletcher Farrar [email protected] Publisher Michelle Ownbey [email protected] Photos by Brent Bohlen Brent by Photos Decatur p. 16 Associate publisher James Bengfort [email protected] Features Calendar editor Stacie Lewis [email protected] 5 | Fashion 14 | Health Editorial/advertising design Windowpane suits Never get sick Joe Copley [email protected] 16 | Explore Brandon Turley 7 | Experts [email protected] A working musician Discover Decatur for Advertising sales some summer fun Beth Parkes-Irwin 8 | Cover story [email protected] 19 | Books Resilient Ron Young Tammy Duckworth: [email protected] Linda Shanklin: An uncommon soldier, Yolanda Bell Community activist, [email protected] senator, mother recent grad, NBA mom Business/Circulation Brenda Matheis 23 | Cooking [email protected] 12 | Finances The guidebook for Copyright 2021. No portion of this publication Helping grandchildren may be reproduced without the express written African American permission of the publisher. This complete pay for college publication is available in digital form at cookbooks www.capitalcityregeneration.com. ReGeneration is published by Illinois Times, 1240 South Sixth Cover photo is by Rich Saal. Street, Springfield, IL 62703. 217-753-2226. ReGeneration / Summer 2021 3 4 capitalcityregeneration.com / Summer 2021 The modern Complete the look gentleman One of the most popular hats of the 20th century – the fedora is known as a style that can bring a touch of formality to an outfit. A modern, classic look Show your style with a windowpane suit Clothing is more than just pieces of fabric that you wear – it is a means of self-expression. In men’s fashion, one of today’s most popular forms of this is the stylish windowpane pattern suit. “For the last five years or so that is the style everyone is looking for,” says Marc Maslauski, owner of Jim Herron Ltd. “Guys see them in fashion magazines and advertisements and just have to have it.” The pattern in the suit is made of slightly elongated rectangles that can have the effect of slightly elongating the wearer. Windowpanes can both beef up a slim man’s profile and have a slimming effect for the larger man. This nice visual trick makes the windowpane suit one of the most versatile styles a man can own. Windowpanes can also be great for the chromatically challenged. The patterns offer an easy way to pair shirts and ties with their jackets. “The best option is to pair a windowpane with a solid-color dress shirt,” says Malauski, “but it’s also popular to wear patterned shirts or ties with them. You just have to be careful about your color choices.” Try to pick a color in the windowpane and go for complimentary colors in your shirt and tie. A windowpane-on-windowpane look can be great, but try to make it a simple pattern as a wild check shirt might look too busy. Terry Wilson, store manager at “Two-button side vent suits are what we sell the Jim Herron, Ltd., showing off his most,” says Malauski. “We can help with the fit and windowpane panel suit. customize the inner lining and even the buttons. Adds Photo by Joseph Copley Joseph by Photo another level of personal style.” –Joseph Copley GET THE LOOK Check out our photo gallery at capitalcityregeneration.com ReGeneration / Summer 2021 5 6 capitalcityregeneration.com / Summer 2021 Experts in our community What they know that you should Contemporary blues guitarist David arrangement or use a different approach.” Lumsden from Springfield has been It’s that moment when several playing music since he was 10 years musicians really gel that brings joy to the old, over 50 years ago. He has lived and music. “I like to share the front spot with traveled as a professional musician most someone who has a different style and of his adult life and has opened for bands brings something different to the table. such as Heart, Wayne Shepherd and The A different flavor, a different style. You Allman Brothers Band. work together to create an interesting He is currently working on his second collaboration.” record and looking forward to playing Working with other musicians takes the Washington Street Stage at Legacy of a lot of cooperation and understanding. Giving on July 3. “Keeping a band together can be quite challenging,” says Lumsden. “Because Musicians are lifelong learners. you have to get people to work together Even the most skilled and seasoned and get along. And if you’re the leader, guitarist still has more to discover. “We’re you better come up with some stuff that always learning,” says Lumsden. “Always the audience likes. Or else your band will try to find someone better than you. drop you like a hot rock. Nobody wants Because that’s where you can learn. That’s to be part of a bad act or one that’s not good advice for any musician.” Club Blues Central Illinois Goza, Michael Credit: progressing.” Teaching is another great way to keep David Lumsden performing at The Alamo’s your skills sharp. “Giving lessons, just weekly Blue Monday showcase. The pandemic hit live music really like teaching anything, is a good way to hard... but it’s starting to make a improve yourself,” says Lumsden. “You’ll comeback. get some pretty proficient students that “Traveling is both desirable and “Everyone suffered because of pick things up quick. So you have to undesirable,” says Lumsden. “It’s fun but COVID-19,” says Lumsden. “Venues get off your butt and ‘chop woodshed’ sometimes can be a real labor. It’s difficult were struggling even before, but of and sharpen your teaching skills or get and expensive. When you’re going course a lot of places went dark. Most embarrassed.” around playing bars and private events places did go dark.” – and if you’re only making $100 each Recently, Illinois has begun to ease Booking shows and making ends a show, you have to have cooperation mask mandates and loosen restrictions meet can be difficult. from your bandmates. They have got to on indoor capacities. Paired with the The life of a musician can be exciting really be into the music and what you’re warm weather many venues are starting and fulfilling. But it can also be hard to creating together.” to have live music again. make a living doing what you love. “The “It’s starting to come back. My friend vast majority [of musicians] have to have Cooperation is a big part of and I played at The Alamo two weeks a regular day job to make ends meet,” keeping a band together. ago” says Lumsden. “Back to a good says Lumsden. “It can be a poverty-level Working with a group is also where regular crowd for a Monday night. It was existence. A lot of work and little pay.” the magic happens. “We talk. Did full so it had to have been 80-plus people. Booking and playing shows takes a the audience like that one? Oh, they Before it was dismal – maybe 10 people lot of work, preparation and planning. didn’t like that? Maybe we change the with the mask mandate.” –Joseph Copley ReGeneration / Summer 2021 7 Upon Resilienther retirement, Linda Shanklin was ready for “Linda 2.0.” She had a new attitude, a new perspective and no fear. By Pamela Woodson Being the mother of an NBA player is exciting, but that’s not this ’60s baby’s only claim to fame. Linda Joyce Fields was born the sixth of eight children in Kansas City, Missouri. She grew up in a Black middle-class neighborhood. While the majority of families were working, two-parent households, these four brothers and three sisters (one sister died at birth) had a single mom keeping a roof over their heads. As a child, Linda was quite the tomboy. Her comfy T-shirts, shorts, Chuck Taylor sneakers and short Afro would make for one life-changing experience. When Linda was around 10, the police were looking for a boy who had robbed a store and Linda fit the description. After a big scene, she proved she was indeed a girl and they had the wrong “guy.” The actual robber ended up being the boy next door. Mom would have no more of this type of mistaken identity. Linda was immediately enrolled in etiquette classes where she had to trade in her Chucks and short Afro for Buster Browns and braids. A few years later, drugs and other factors drastically changed their neighborhood. This prompted Linda’s mother to flee with her youngest three children for a safer home and better opportunities. Springfield, Illinois, would be their landing pad. With a new school, new friends and a new stepfather, 15-year-old Linda was introduced to a whole new world in Springfield. “I’d never gone to school with that many white people in my entire life. Our school in KC had Blacks and other people of color – but very few whites.” Linda hated school but she had sports. Unfortunately, the move came too late in the Photo courtesy Linda Shanklin courtesy Photo year.