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Getting
ready for a Civil War re-enactment
Dressing:
Sutlery provides
clothing and other articles
[MAY
25, 2001] Just
on the outskirts south of Lincoln sits a unique, small, yet
world-famous family-run business. R & K’s Sutlery has supplied
authentic reproduction Civil War-period clothing and associated
articles for people all over the world. "You name it, from
Australia to South Africa," Coons says. "I believe we are
the largest sutlery in the world." The sutlery carries a full
line of men’s, women’s and children’s clothing and
accessories, as well as military uniforms, accoutrements and
weapons.
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The
business flowed out of Robert Coon’s 30-year hobby, performing in
Civil War re-enactments. When his 29-year job with the utility
company ended due to a back injury, it was a natural transition for
him to break into the sutlery supply business. His passion,
knowledge and expertise have made the business grow in leaps and
bounds. He’s been at it for 15 years now, and his business just
continues to grow. "I can keep barely keep up with it,"
Coons says. "Sales keep increasing."
![](../images/ads/Key%20Printing/key.gif)
Robert’s
wife, Kay, is an important part in running the business. She works
mostly in the office, handling orders, making travel arrangements
and taking care of many other details. The Coons have brought in two
of their grandchildren to help handle the expanding business.
Sixteen-year-old Mallory Coons will be in the office full time as
soon as school lets out. Brian Baker has been working full time in
the family business for some time now and is particularly valuable
to his grandfather on the road. They travel all summer long, setting
up the store at various re-enactment sites.
![](../images/052501pics/civil%20war%203.jpg)
The
family is looking forward to a big business trip together this
summer. Oddly enough it is overseas to England. The English are
hosting a large American Civil War re-enactment and have a weekend
full of battles and other activities planned. There is a chartered
plane taking a large group of military re-enactors over as well.
With
their vast stock valued at about $70,000, R & K Sutlery has
supplied costuming for a number of movies, re-enactments, two
Broadway theater productions and even the opera. "We are
capable of coming in and outfitting an entire regiment," Coons
says with pride, "and that takes a lot of stock."
![](../images/052501pics/civil%20war%201.jpg)
R
& K’s movie credits include:
•
"C.S.Hunley: A story about the 1st submarine." It was
owned by the Confederates and sunk by a Yankee ship. The movie was
made by Turner Network.
•
"The Day They Shot Lincoln"
[to top of second column in
this article]
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![](../images/052501pics/civil%20war%204.jpg)
•
"The Patriot," starring Mel Gibson. This movie is from an
earlier time period than the Civil War, but R & K supplied the
ladies’ undergarments because they were the same kind.
•
"Last of the Mohicans"
•
"Gettysburg"
•
"The North and the South"
It
takes a lot of clothing and miscellaneous articles to fully equip a
full military regiment, and then there are two sides to that story.
Kay jokingly says they are a "nonpartisan sutlery." They
stock military uniforms for both the North and the South.
Northerners wore two tones of blue, and the South dressed in gray.
The military divisions include infantry (on foot), cavalry (on
horseback) and artillery (shooting cannons).
The
sutlery carries a vast variety of items. You name it and you will
find it. They have specialized buttons, footwear, swords and all
sorts of authentic reproduction weapons, ladies’ fans and sun
umbrellas, woolen stockings, hats, haversacks, camping gear, and
tents.
They
have clothing in stock or you can have clothing custom made to fit.
With 14 people sewing, they manufacture most of what they sell. You
don’t have to be going to a Civil War event to find articles of
interest from their products. Many items are quite suitable for
modern-day use. Thick, woolen socks are great for winter outdoor
activities, and there are decorative and functional accessories like
ladies’ fans and gloves.
![](../images/052501pics/civil%20war%202.jpg)
Most
of R & K’s sales are orders that are processed and shipped.
The Coonses do invite people to their stock house to shop, though
they prefer customers to call and make an appointment. Phone (217)
732-8844.
![](../images/ads/prairie_years/Prairie_years_ad.gif)
You
can see many of the items the sutlery offers online at their
website, http://www.sutlery.com.
Their e-mail address is sutlery@sutlery.com.
[Jan
Youngquist]
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‘The
Armchair Millionaire’
[JUNE 6, 2001] “The
Armchair Millionaire." Lewis Schiff and Douglas Gerlach, Pocket
Books, 2001, 208 pages.
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In
their new book "The Armchair Millionaire," authors Lewis
Schiff and Douglas Gerlach provide an effective analogy regarding
the field of investing: "Investing is a lot like buying a car…you’ve
got many choices, but there’s no such thing as the ‘best’
choice for everyone, only the one that’s right for you."
Making the right choices is the authors’ primary assertion as they
explain the steps ordinary individuals can take to "build and
protect an extraordinary portfolio."
![](../images/060601pics/armchairbook_big.jpg)
They
emphasize that anyone who follows their "five steps to
financial freedom" can increase the chances for achieving
personal prosperity. That self-help approach makes it easier for the
layperson to recognize financial goals and plan and execute his own
strategy. Part of that strategy involves access to financial
information on the World Wide Web, including the Armchair
Millionaire website (www.armchairmillionaire.com).
In
part one, "Getting Ready for the Journey," the authors
define what is and is not an "Armchair Millionaire," the
myths that surround obtaining financial freedom, how to prepare
yourself for financial success, and dealing with personal debt. An
Armchair Millionaire is a common sense, do-it-yourselfer with a
goal, a plan and eventually a portfolio.
![](../images/ads/LDN/We'llspreadtheword.jpg)
In
explaining how to obtain financial freedom the authors debunk 11
"mondo-sized myths that Armchair Millionaires tell us they used
to hold true…before they saw the light." The myths include:
You have to have money to make money; it’s too hard to figure out
how the stock market works; you have to stay on top of the market
each day; and most importantly, saving money is too hard.
Debt
reduction is as important as raising money for investment; the
authors discuss their five "debt buster" strategies: Know
your enemy (credit cards, loans, other debts); invest in your debt
(speed up repayment of your debts); lessen the burden; give up
credit cards for one week (and ultimately for good); and plan your
strategy.
[to top of
second column in this review]
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![](../images/ads/prairie_years/Prairie_years_ad.gif)
The
essence of the book’s message comes in part two, "Five Steps
to Financial Freedom." These are the steps that can increase
your chances for financial independence. The steps are to (1) max
out all tax deferred savings, (2) pay yourself first, (3) invest
automatically (and benefit from dollar cost averaging), (4) use the
armchair investing strategy, and (5) start today — put the power
of compound interest to work for you.
The
armchair investing strategy is an eight-step process that "will
be the perfect way to make your money work for you over the long
term." This strategy must be easy to start, maintain and
understand; it must be inexpensive to implement and maintain; it
must be tax efficient, widely available and have a long history by
which it can be judged. Finally, the strategy should make a lot of
money — and that can be done with the strategy known as
"indexing." Index investing is based on a "group of
stocks that represents a market or a segment of a market." The
Standard & Poor’s 500 is a well-known example of a stock
index.
The
final chapter in this section is the testimonial-like
"Fulfilling Your Dreams." It offers thoughts and quotes
from different investors who have experienced success with the
Armchair Millionaire method. Perhaps the most compelling bit of
advice comes from Armchair Millionaire member Katie, who writes,
"I wish I’d understood how even a small amount saved and
invested each month would grow into a substantial amount over time.
I would have started sooner."
"The
Armchair Millionaire" is an interesting approach to obtaining
personal wealth and financial independence. Many of the suggestions
and recommendations contain time-honored advice that has been proven
to work over the long term. Helpful hints and tips are marked
throughout the book with the Armchair Millionaire icon. The
appendices at the end are also useful; there is an explanation for
using the book with its website, a list of index funds suitable for
the armchair strategy and a glossary of terms. This book is
recommended to anyone who is interested in personal finance,
investing, or retirement and estate planning.
For
more information, visit the library at 725 Pekin St. or call (217)
732-8878.
[Richard
Sumrall, Lincoln Public Library District]
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![](../reviews/halfstar.gif) ![](../reviews/star.gif) ![](../reviews/star.gif) ‘The
Contender’
Released on video Tuesday,
March 6, 2001
Rated
R Approx
127 Minutes DreamWorks
Home Entertainment -2000
Written
and directed by Rod Lurie
Starring:
Jeff
Bridges
Christian
Slater
Sam
Elliot
Joan
Allen
Gary
Oldman (also the executive producer)
Warnings:
This
movie uses graphic language to describe sexual scenes and presents
some nudity.
[MARCH
10, 2001]
The box said “two thumbs up” and
“Thriller!”
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In
recent years, the "two thumbs up" endorsement has meant
that I probably was going to find the movie to be a loser.
"Thriller" usually means I may endure it but I’m
probably not going to be thrilled with it.
However,
in the case of "The Contender," both my thumbs are up
too, and I am indeed thrilled.
"The
Contender" is a gritty movie, a political "action"
film of sorts. It is a thriller because you don’t have a clear
shot at the plot until it is finally revealed for you. At the end,
you look back on the film and say, "Yeah, I should’ve seen
that coming."
"The
Contender" is gritty because it focuses on a dirty fight
between political rivals to appoint a new vice president of the
United States. The president (played very aptly by Jeff Bridges)
selects a woman, Sen. Lane Hanson of Ohio (Joan Allen), for the
job, against the advice of party officials and his own advisers.
The previous vice president died somehow in office — but
"The Contender" never tries to explain his passing.
The
whole plot is wrapped up in the confirmation hearings and the
process of bringing an appointee to office or sending ’em off
packing.
Gary
Oldman plays Sheldon Runyon, the Republican chairman of the
selection committee. The highly respected, powerful senator seems
bent on not only denying the president his day in the sun but also
destroying the very career of Sen. Hanson.
[to
top of second column in this review]
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Two
things about this movie made a good impression on me.
First,
the acting was excellent. Oldman plays a perfect bad guy in this film
(he seems to have the bad-guy act down pat). Jeff Bridges, who I
thought incapable of playing a convincing president, stepped up to the
plate and delivered. Christian Slater played the part of a freshman
congressman who was seeking to do the right thing on principle, and
was perfectly cast for the part. Finally, Joan Allen was wonderful in
her portrayal of the contender under siege.
Second,
the plot was dynamite. This movie seems to make you move away from
certain characters and make certain assumptions, but you find yourself
making a couple of 90 degree turns before it’s done. In the spirit
of "The West Wing," it is full of political intrigue and the
power of the Washington scene. "The Contender" is a film
about respect and dignity and the rocky road to realizing those two
values.
The
first hour of the movie has a single weakness: The lack of actors on
the set portraying political operatives, appointees, devotees and
those holding office makes you believe the story less. They needed a
fuller cast to make it seem like Washington and government.
This
is not a partisan film about the usual struggle between Republicans
and Democrats. Instead it is a story about the dynamics of power,
accusation and truth.
So,
I recommend this film to you if you enjoy a good thriller, if you
enjoy stories about the political struggles of this nation and if you
like a good fiction about how truth prevails.
I
give it 3½ stars (out of five).
[midge]
midge@lincolndailynews.com
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LDN
announces contest winners
[JUNE
8, 2001] Winners
of two pairs of tickets to "You're a Good Man, Charlie
Brown," Lincoln Community Theatre's opening production this
summer, are Lisa Ramlow and Judy Kukuck. The ticket contest was
sponsored by Lincoln Daily News. Congratulations and enjoy
the show, girls!
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Opening
night reception for first LCT
cast
[JUNE
6, 2001] Lincoln
Community Theatre’s first production of their 30th
anniversary season will open Friday, June 8, in the Johnston Center
for the Performing Arts on the campus of Lincoln College. The show
chosen to commemorate the opening of this anniversary celebration is
the same show that opened LCT’s very first season, in 1971,
"You’re a Good Man, Charlie Brown."
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Original
LCT board members and the original cast from the first production
have been invited to the opening night performance. An anniversary
reception for the returning guests, as well as the opening night
audience, will immediately follow this performance. Two of the
original six cast members are currently appearing in Broadway
productions: J.P. Dougherty in a touring production of
"Les Miserables" and Terry Kinney in the current Broadway
production of "One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest."
LCT’s
"You’re a Good Man, Charlie Brown" will be presented
June 8 through 16. Tuesday through Saturday performances are at 8
p.m., with a 2 p.m. Sunday matinee.
[to top of second column in
this article]
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Tickets
are still available for all performances. The box office (735-2614)
is open Monday through Saturday from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. and one hour
before each performance.
For
more information about this production, the other three performances
scheduled for this summer or LCT season memberships, visit the
website at http://www.geocities.com/lincolncommunitytheatre/.
*Due
to the illness of cast member Jeff Kindred, the role of Linus will
be played by Mike Block of Lincoln. LCT wishes Jeff a speedy
recovery.
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39
get roles in LCT’s ‘Tom Sawyer’
[MAY
4, 2001] Sixty-seven
young people from second through 12th grades auditioned for Lincoln
Community Theatre's upcoming children’s play. Thirty-nine have
been cast in what promises to be a delightful rendition of "Tom
Sawyer." Performances will be at
7 p.m. June 28 and 29 and at 2 p.m. June 30 and July 1 at the
Johnston Center on the Lincoln College campus.
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Cast
/ Characters
Alison
Maske of Mount Pulaski — Susan Harper, school girl
Gracie
Wood of Lincoln — Gracie Miller, school girl
Brian
Welter of Lincoln — Muff Potter, town derelict
Joe
Allspach of Mount Pulaski — Sheriff
Anthony
Jones of Hartsburg — Injun Joe (dangerous)
Tom
Swanson of Lincoln — Doc Robinson, young surgeon
Kaitlyn
Przykopanski of Mount Pulaski — Mrs. Walters, Sunday School
superintendent
Holly
Phillips of Lincoln — Widow Douglas, Aunt Polly's friend
Julie
Wood of Lincoln — Mrs. Harper, Joe's mother
![](../images/050401pics/Tom%20Sawyer%20auditions%206.jpg)
![](../images/050401pics/Tom%20Sawyer%20auditions%207.jpg)
Brianna
Skaggs of Mason City — Amy Lawrence, school girl
Kelly
Dowling of Lincoln — Aunt Polly, Tom's aunt
Ben
Herrington-Gilmore of Lincoln — Tom Sawyer (always in trouble)
Spencer
Harris of Lincoln — Huck Finn, Tom's friend (a free spirit)
Alison
Kessinger of Lincoln — Cousin Mary, Tom's relative
Doug
Rohrer of Lincoln — Judge Thatcher (new in town)
Emili
Moneyhun of Lincoln — Mrs. Thatcher, the judge’s wife
[to top of second column in
this article]
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Molly
Mathewson of Athens — Becky Thatcher, daughter of Judge and Mrs.
Thatcher
Shelby
Voyles of Lincoln — Sally, school girl
Payton
McVey of Atlanta — Ben Rogers, town boy
Max
Pozsqai of Lincoln — Joe Harper, town boy
Corey
Moynahan of Sherman — Alfred Temple, town boy
Nathaniel
King of Lincoln — Mr. Dobbins, schoolmaster
Patrick
Perry of Lincoln — Reverend Sprague, minister
Townspeople
Emily
Berglin, Taylor Berglin, Tony Curcuru, Kelsey Dallas, Nettie Duncan,
Stephen Duncan, Greg Gandenberger, Luke Hanger, Katy Reynolds, Moses
Rogers and Todd Schumacher, all of Lincoln; Joel Rankin of Mount
Pulaski; Jillian Nichole Dowell of Kenney; Darci Dixon of Athens;
Tanner Milan of Sherman; and Emma Jo Schumacher of Springfield
Coleen
McLaughlin-Moore is the director, Miranda Stone is technical
director, and Rachel Washam is audiovisual technician.
The
local production of "Tom Sawyer," by Tim Kelly, is
presented by special arrangement with publisher IE Clark.
For
more information see the LCT website, www.geocities.com/lincolncommunitytheatre.
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LCT’s
‘Charlie Brown’ cast announced
[APRIL
23, 2001] Lincoln
Community Theatre’s cast for the first performance of the summer
season, "You’re a Good Man, Charlie Brown," is set to
begin rehearsals. This popular musical was the very first production
ever staged by LCT in 1972 and will kick off Lincoln Community
Theatre’s 30th season.
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Cast
as the ever-suffering Charlie Brown is Sean Edward Hall of
Springfield. Hall has directed several LCT productions, but this
will mark his debut performance on the Lincoln stage.
Appearing
as Linus will be Jeff Kindred of Atlanta, a familiar face on the
local stage.
Two
of the leading performers from last summer’s popular show
"Annie" will also be appearing in "Charlie
Brown." Jill Nessler of Sherman ("Annie’s" Miss
Hannigan) and Carrie Schreiber of Lincoln ("Annie’s"
Grace Farrell) will appear as Lucy and Patty.
[to top of second column in
this article]
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Rounding
out the cast will be LCT newcomers Josh Twente of Lincoln as
Schroeder and Tony Crawford of Clinton as Snoopy.
Season
tickets for the entire season are still available by contacting LCT,
Box 374, Lincoln 62656 or by calling (217) 732-2640.
Further
information regarding season memberships, auditions and cast lists
is available at the LCT website located at http://www.geocities.com/
lincolncommunitytheatre/.
[LCT
news release]
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Lincoln Community Theatre website
Lincoln
Community Theatre’s (LCT) website is up and available. The
site serves a number of functions, from providing information on
becoming a season ticket holder to showing what new productions are
being planned. Pictures from last season's productions are also
posted.
If
you are interested in joining a performance or just going to see
one, visit LCT’s website at www.geocities.com/lincolncommunitytheatre/index.html,
e-mail LCT at lincolncommunitytheatre@yahoo.com,
or write to Lincoln Community Theatre, P.O. Box 374, Lincoln,
IL 62656.
[LDN]
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