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Eagle exhibit on display at library

[APRIL 16, 2002]  The Illinois Audubon Society’s traveling exhibit on eagles is now on display at the Lincoln Public Library, 725 Pekin St. The display is in the Annex and can be seen during library hours, 9 a.m. to 8 p.m. Monday through Thursday, 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. Friday, and 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Saturday.

North America’s bald eagle, the national symbol of the United States, is at last making a comeback after its precipitous decline in the mid-1900s. In the 1800s, bald eagles were widespread throughout Illinois, building nests and raising their young. But by the mid 1900s they were on the endangered species list.

[Photos by Joan Crabb]

Today these magnificent birds, having a 6- to 7-foot wingspan, standing 3 feet long from head to tail, and weighing 8 to 10 pounds, can once again be seen in Illinois.

Because of the widespread use of DDT and other pesticides, eagles and some other raptors (birds that kill and eat other animals) became endangered in the lower 48 states. The chemicals washed into rivers and streams and became concentrated in fish, the eagle’s favorite food. The eagles ate the contaminated fish and began laying eggs with shells so thin they would break before they could hatch. Some birds were also illegally shot and poisoned.

Since the ban on DDT, these birds have begun to increase in numbers and can now be seen in Illinois, especially in winter, along the Mississippi and Illinois rivers. Along the Illinois River, they can be seen at Starved Rock State Park, Rice Lake and Chautauqua National Wildlife Refuge. The birds especially like areas below dams that provide open water where they can catch fish. Many of the eagles that winter in Illinois will migrate to the upper Midwest and Canada for nesting in the spring, but several pairs are nesting in Illinois once more.

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Bald eagles can live for 30 years in the wild and often mate for life. They like to return year after year to the same nesting site, a platform of sticks and branches high above ground, usually near water. Both parents feed and care for the young.

These birds do not mature and acquire their adult plumage, the distinctive white head and tail and huge yellow beak, until they are about 4 years old. Until that time, young bald eagles are brownish-black, although they are as big as adult birds.

The golden eagle, the other species found in the lower 48 states, is brown with a golden wash over the back of the head and neck. This bird is rare in the East but is fairly common in the West, where it lives in mountainous areas and hunts for small mammals, snakes, birds and carrion.

[Leslie Starasta reads about bald eagles at the Lincoln Public Library display.]

The Illinois Audubon Society, founded in 1897, is one of the oldest conservation groups in the Midwest. It focuses primarily on state and local issues, working to preserve habitat, promote good conservation practices, and foster an appreciation of wildlife through its education program. It is not affiliated with the National Audubon Society. The traveling exhibits are funded, in part, by a grant from the Illinois Department of Natural Resources, Natural Heritage Division, which is also supported by the Illinois Wildlife Preservation Fund.

The Illinois society is a non-profit organization, and contributions are tax deductible. Information can be obtained from its headquarters at Illinois Audubon Society, P.O. Box 2418, Danville, IL 61834-2418, or on the website, www.illinoisaudubon.org.

[Joan Crabb]

[MAY 1, 2002]  ^"Journey to the River Sea." Eva Ibbotson. Dutton, 2001. 298 pages. Grades 5-9.

Ibbotson’s story is one that explodes with adventures. The year is 1910, and Maia, an orphan, has just learned that she will be sent from the school where she lives to Brazil to live with relatives she has never met. As she prepares to leave she is excited about the region where she will live and thrilled with the fact that she will live with a real family, which includes twin daughters her age. When she boards the boat she will meet her new governess, who will accompany her on the trip and remain in Brazil to teach Maia and the twins.

The boat ride is just the first of many adventures that Maia will encounter, and it is on the boat that she meets Clovis. Clovis is a child actor who is going to be appearing in some theaters in the cities of Brazil. He had been promised that he would become rich and famous, but so far that hasn’t happened. He’s been doing a lot of traveling, so he is anxious to hear all that Maia can tell him about London, where his adoptive mother still lives.

It doesn’t take Maia long after her arrival to realize that her relatives, the Carters, are willing to take care of her only because of the monthly allowance they will receive. The twins are greedy and hateful, and they use every opportunity to torment Maia.

Miss Minton realizes this from the beginning and has a plan so that Maia can study by herself. Miss Minton asks Maia to pretend to be a lot slower at learning than the twins, and then the governess will tell Mrs. Carter that Maia is holding the twins back in their studies. Actually, it is just the opposite. The plan works, and Maia gets to study maps and read interesting books that Miss Minton has brought with her in a trunk. The governess becomes one of Maia’s best friends and protects her from the twins whenever possible.

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Maia befriends the Indian servants who live in huts behind the main compound and also a boy named Finn. Finn’s father, an Englishman, and his mother, an Indian, have both died. Finn continues with projects his father had started. Maia also has renewed her acquaintance with Clovis, who is acting in the town near where she lives.

The plot picks up speed when the relatives of Finn’s father want him to return to London to live at the family estate. Since Finn does not want to return to England, he, Maia and Clovis develop a plan to keep Finn in Brazil and allow Clovis to go in his place.

Finn teaches Clovis all the family history, including people, places and events he needs to know to successfully make the switch. The plan almost falls apart at the last minute when Clovis panics, but Miss Minton saves the day.

The suspense continues to the end as Finn readies his boat to go in search of his mother’s tribe and Maia continues to be on the alert for the next Carter family trick.

Anyone who loves adventure stories sprinkled with suspense and action will like Ibbotson’s latest offering.

[Pat Schlough, Lincoln Public Library]

• Lincoln Community Theatre

• Logan County Arts Association

‘Silk Satin and Swing’ closes
Community Concert series

[APRIL 25, 2002]  All this season, the Community Concerts have been lively, energetic and perhaps focused a bit more on entertainment than on good musicianship, though all of the artists who have been featured are wonderful musicians. Some people, though, prefer to go to a concert and listen to good music by good musicians. They don’t want gaudy entertainment, just serious strings. This concert was for them.

Concert number five of this year’s Community Concert series was much more toned down than the first four. With two violins and a piano, there is not a whole lot of room for rowdiness outside of the music.

The Galaxy Trio consists of Lenny Solomon, a jazz violinist who has won many awards (including Violinist of the Year three years running at The Jazz Report Awards); Moshe Hammer, a violinist and leader of The Amadeus Ensemble for 17 years; and Bernie Senensky, a pianist "recognized as one of the foremost accompanists in the world."

Their concert, "Silk Satin and Swing," consisted completely of instrumentals (it is rather hard to sing with a violin under your chin), including pieces by J.S. Bach, Beethoven and even Gershwin. There were smooth classical pieces (some originally written for violin and orchestra), inspiring jazz pieces and a suite written specifically for the group by Bill Bridges, entitled "Celtic Suite." The group performed the "Air" and the "Reel" from this suite in their concert, and then delighted the audience with the second movement, the "Gigue" (pronounced "jig"), as an encore.

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Many of the pieces were arranged for two violins and piano by pianist Bernie Senensky.

Other songs included "Blue Room" by Richard Rogers, "A Nightingale Sang in Barkley Square" by Eric Maschwitz and even "Matchmaker" by Jerry Bock (yes, that is from "The Fiddler on the Roof").

Smooth sounds and jazzy tunes dominated this concert. Though Solomon and Hammer tried to spice it up with witty comments and jokes between songs, the real appeal was in the music.

Yes, it’s true; this year’s Community Concerts are over. It’s sad, but don’t worry! The Concert in the Park series is right around the corner! (Bring your own lawn chair.)

[Gina Sennett]

Auditions for summer shows

[APRIL 9, 2002]  Lincoln Community Theatre is looking for local talent to sing, dance and act in its summer 2002 productions. Singing and non-singing roles are available.

If auditioning for a role in one of this summer’s musical productions, individuals should have a song prepared. An accompanist will be available. Individuals should also be prepared to learn a few basic dance steps at the audition.

Those auditioning for non-singing roles will be required to do cold readings from the script. Scripts may be viewed at the Lincoln Public Library two weeks prior to each audition. Library scripts may not be removed from the building.

All auditions will be conducted at St. John Church of Christ, 204 Seventh St. in Lincoln.

Production and audition dates are as follows:

•  "Hello, Dolly!"

Performance dates: June 14-22

Auditions:

•  Friday, April 12, 6 p.m.

•  Saturday, April 13, 10 a.m.

•  Sunday, April 14, 2 p.m., callbacks only

You will be asked to sing a song, your choice or one from "Hello, Dolly." You will also be taught a simple dance (you do not need to prepare one). The director is looking in the age range of 25 to 60, but all are welcome to audition.

•  "Dearly Departed"

Performance dates: July 12-20

Auditions:

•  Friday, May 10, 6:30 p.m.

•  Saturday, May 11, 10 a.m.

The director is looking for actors age 20 and above. There will be four to six men, six to eight women, a trio of singers and a part for one teenage girl. There are lots of parts for older mature actors. People auditioning should plan to be there for entire audition session (1½ to two hours).

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[Judy Rader, LCT publicity chairman]

Lincoln Community Theatre’s website is at www.geocities.com/lincolncommunitytheatre/index.html. Pictures from past productions are included.  The LCT mailing address is Lincoln Community Theatre, P.O. Box 374, Lincoln, IL  62656.  E-mail: lincolncommunitytheatre@yahoo.com.

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