Carol Webb, LC trips to Cubs vs. Cards, DeWitt-Logan retired teachers, Danielle Krabbe, HSLC garage sale donations, Land of Lincoln Honor Flight, Mount Pulaski postal services, public meeting on downtown plan, Pittsburgh Symphony cellist in Atlanta, Lincoln College trip to Gurnee Mills and 'South Pacific,' Holocaust program in Atlanta, Atlanta candidates, library database change

[March 25, 2013]  Carol Webb, member of Grail team, to speak at St. John UCC

The Charity Guild of St. John United Church of Christ will host a program Tuesday evening, March 26, by Carol Webb, a member of the International Leadership Team of The Grail. The program will begin at 6:30 p.m. in the St. John Fellowship Hall.

The Grail is an international movement of women of different cultures, social backgrounds and generations in 17 countries.

Webb's work is focused particularly on education, training and community development in the global south. She has given workshops and trainings in Brasil, Papua New Guinea, Portugal, Mocambique, South Africa, Kenya, Uganda and Tanzania.

About her involvement for almost 40 years, she said: "The Grail is an organization committed to building a world of justice and peace through education and action. We focus our work particularly on encouraging the full participation of women in their communities and the world at large. At the heart of Grail's life is our spirituality and search for a deeper understanding of God and God's presence in our world. Acknowledging that we are part of the whole creation, we strive to live simply and to nurture a culture of care for all the earth."

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Lincoln College invites public to join 2 outings to Cubs-Cardinals games

Tickets are now available for Lincoln College's annual "Take Me Out to the Ball Game" event hosted by the LC Office of Alumni Relations and Special Events. This year there are two opportunities to watch the Chicago Cubs play the St. Louis Cardinals: at Wrigley Field (a rooftop experience) in Chicago on July 13 and at Busch Stadium in St. Louis, Mo., on Aug. 10. Both are Saturday games scheduled to start at 6:15 p.m.

Tickets are available to all Lincoln College alumni, friends and the general public. Both events are all-inclusive; with motor coach transportation available. Ticket availability is limited, so make your reservations now.

The cost for each game is $150 per person and includes a game ticket, air-conditioned party room overlooking the outfield, a buffet meal, and unlimited soda and beer (and wine in Chicago). The St. Louis game will also include door prizes and a raffle of Cardinals and Cubs items.

The bus cost for the Chicago game is $40 per person, with pickups in Lincoln and Normal. For the St. Louis game, the bus is $30 per person, with pickups in Lincoln and Springfield.

To reserve your tickets or for more information, contact the college alumni office at 217-732-3155, ext. 217; call toll-free at 877-522-5867; or visit http://www.lincolncollege.edu/alumni/. Additional questions can be emailed to Kerri Taylor at [e-mail].

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DeWitt-Logan retired teachers meet April 10

CLINTON -- The quarterly meeting of the DeWitt-Logan unit of the Illinois Retired Teachers Association will be on April 10 at 10:30 a.m. at Ted's Garage Restaurant in Clinton. The program will be presented by Pam Kogler, administrative services manager, and Lesley Booth, Medicare coordination of benefits supervisor. Both come from Central Management Systems and are specialists in the Teachers' Retirement Insurance Program. They will present information on coordination of benefits with Medicare.

The Illinois Retired Teachers Association is a nonprofit, nonpartisan organization of retired educators. The association serves the needs and interests of its members through advocacy, education, cooperation and socialization in a flexible organizational structure. Membership is open to all retired and active teachers and their spouses.

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Danielle Krabbe serving as Business Brigade volunteer in Panama

LITCHFIELD -- Danielle Krabbe, a junior at the University of Illinois, is participating in Global Business Brigades, the world's largest student-led global health and sustainable development organization. She is currently spending seven days in a rural community in Panama to help provide solutions to the community's economic needs.

The beneficiaries typically have a low level of income, lack of collateral and low level of education.

Krabbe is conducting household visits in which she assesses the family's level of financial competency and entrepreneurial goals. She then provides educational and technical assistance in personal finance, basic accounting and business planning.

The Business Brigade volunteers invest in the community savings and loan by providing seed capital. The seed capital provides loans to small businesses and entrepreneurs to either expand current operations or pursue new business opportunities.

Krabbe is studying in the College of Business at the University of Illinois and majoring in marketing and management. She is a 2011 graduate of Litchfield High School.

Danielle is the daughter of Roger and Dana Krabbe of Litchfield and granddaughter of Dan and Marilyn Wheat of Lincoln.

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HSLC now seeking donations for 2nd annual garage sale

The Humane Society of Logan County is seeking donations of goods for the second annual "Big Spring Garage Sale." Clean, gently used items for donation can be dropped off every Wednesday and Saturday, beginning April 3, from 10 a.m. until 2 p.m. at the Logan County Fairgrounds. Use the south entrance.

For more information or to arrange pickup, call 732-1979 or 732-7853. Electronics cannot be accepted.

This year's sale will be May 10 and 11, a Friday and Saturday, at the Logan County Fairgrounds.

Items for sale will include home decor, toys, sporting goods, furniture, clothes, shoes, accessories, holiday items, outdoor goods, books, CDs, DVDs and much more. There will also be food, music and fun stuff just for kids.

With the support of the community, the HSLC was able to open a shelter in 2011. Since then, they have placed more than 200 cats and dogs in forever homes, and facilitated in more than 400 low-cost spay and neuters per year.

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Land of Lincoln Honor Flight 'welcome home' event March 26

SPRINGFIELD -- Donations and efforts of many individuals, organizations and businesses have allowed Land of Lincoln Honor Flight to take 16 more World War II veterans, 68 more Korean veterans and one Vietnam veteran to Washington, D.C., next week to see the World War II Memorial, Korean Memorial, Vietnam Memorial, Arlington Cemetery, National Air and Space Museum, and other memorials. Seventy-seven guardians who are responsible for the veterans' comfort and safety will be on the 19th Land of Lincoln Honor Flight. This is the first flight for 2013.

The public is invited to a "welcome home" ceremony for these WWII, Korean era and Vietnam veterans when the plane arrives back at Abraham Lincoln Capital Airport in Springfield at 9:30 p.m. on Tuesday, March 26. Wear red, white and blue to show your appreciation.

Veterans on this flight come from the Illinois towns of Alton, Auburn, Bartonville, Benson, Brimfield, Bunker Hill, Canton, Carlinville, Carrollton, Chatham, Chillicothe, Clinton, Dawson, Decatur, East Peoria, Elgin, Elmwood, Fairbury, Forrest, Greenview, Groveland, Jacksonville, Latham, Lincoln, Loami, Manchester, Mason City, Medora, Metamora, Morton, Mount Olive, Mount Pulaski, Normal, North Pekin, Odell, Pekin, Peoria, Petersburg, Pontiac, Roanoke, Rochester, Roodhouse, Rushville, San Jose, Saybrook, Sherman, Springfield, Taylorville, Tremont, Virden, Virginia, White Hall, Wood River and Yates City.

Applications from veterans are still being accepted for the following, but WWII veterans will be served first:

• Veterans who enlisted by Dec. 31, 1946 (WWII -- 101 currently on the list)

• Veterans who served Jan. 1, 1947, through Dec. 31, 1957 (Korean era -- 388 currently on the list)

• Veterans who served Jan. 1, 1958, through May 7, 1975 (137 currently on the list)

Flights are also scheduled for April 23 (already full), May 21 (already full) and June 18 (being filled). If funds are available, there will be additional flights in September and October.

The Land of Lincoln Honor Flight board welcomes the chance to speak to organizations, businesses, churches, conventions or others groups about their mission, future flights, guardian duties, fundraising and donations.

For more information about this flight, how individuals and groups can help the mission, how to obtain applications, how to become a member, and to learn more about Land of Lincoln Honor Flight, go to the website, www.landoflincolnhonorflight.org, or contact Ray Wiedle: home, 314-427-2317; cell, 217-622-1473; email, [e-mail].

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Public meeting to discuss Mount Pulaski post office

MOUNT PULASKI -- The U.S. Postal Service will have a public meeting to answer questions and provide additional information about the Post Plan for Mount Pulaski.

• Day, date: Wednesday, April 3

• Time: 1 p.m.

• Where: 114 S. Lafayette St.
  Family Life Center of Christian Church (across the street from the post office)

A survey was sent to citizens to help determine the best course of action for providing postal services to the Mount Pulaski community. When you receive the survey, please fill it out and return it in the envelope provided. The surveys, in addition to the public meeting, will enable the Postal Service to obtain all community input and opinions before making a final decision regarding the post office in Mount Pulaski.

Note: In the survey, the meeting was announced to be at the post office, 121 N. Lafayette, but the location has been changed to the Family Life Center across the street, as indicated above.

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Public meeting for downtown revitalization and redevelopment planning slated for March 27

There will be a public meeting Wednesday, March 27, to present the preliminary Downtown Revitalization Plan to residents, local business owners and community leaders. The meeting will be from 4 to 6 p.m. at the Lincoln Park District Administrative Center, 1400 Primm Road.

The meeting will be an open house format, meaning that people interested can arrive and leave at any point during the scheduled time, and no formal presentation will be given. Members of the study team will be present to explain exhibits and answer any questions.

The Downtown Revitalization Plan makes recommendations on specific physical improvements to downtown Lincoln, including streetscape improvements, a conceptual plan for the public parks and courthouse square, parking and traffic plans, historical façade improvements, and a historical preservation plan.

Information on the activities that have taken place leading up to this meeting can be viewed on the project website: http://explorelogancounty.com/
DowntownLincolnStudy/.

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Pittsburgh Symphony cellist featured in final Behind the Scenes program

ATLANTA -- Cellist Mikhail Istomin will be in Atlanta on Friday, April 5, for this year's final event in the Atlanta Public Library's Behind the Scenes program. The event will be at the North Greens Golf Course.

Those attending can hear the musician's story of growing up in the former Soviet Union and adapting to a new life in the U.S. He will answer questions, talk about how musicians are selected for premium jobs in major U.S. orchestras, and also perform for the group "up close and personal."

Born and educated in Russia, Mikhail Istomin, known as Misha, holds a master's degree in music from the St. Petersburg Conservatory. While still in school, he became principal cellist of the State Hermitage Orchestra and later joined the orchestra of the Kirov Academic Opera and Ballet Theatre.

In 1987, he became the cellist of the Leningrad Conservatory String Quartet, and in 1989 the group won the grand prize in the National Soviet Union Competition of String Quartets. Later that year, Misha defected during the quartet's U.S. tour and was granted political asylum in the United States, where he went on to establish an exceptional musical career, including establishing the acclaimed Pittsburgh Piano Trio.

Misha was appointed principal cellist of the Pittsburgh Opera and Pittsburgh Ballet Theater orchestras in 1991, and the following year, he joined the Pittsburgh Symphony Orchestra under Maestro Lorin Maazel.

In July 1998, Misha returned to St. Petersburg to perform in the Second World Cello Congress under the direction of the renowned conductor Mstislav Rostropovich.

The Atlanta event begins with a free reception at 6:30 p.m., and the program starts at 7 p.m. Tickets are $10 and may be purchased in advance at the library or at the door on April 5.

Behind the Scenes is sponsored by the Atlanta National Bank and the City of Atlanta.

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Lincoln College hosts a day trip to Gurnee Mills & 'South Pacific'

Tickets are available now through March 25 for a spring Lincoln College shopping and theater event April 13, hosted by the LC Office of Alumni Relations and Special Events. Guests will enjoy approximately four hours for lunch and shopping at Gurnee Mills outlet mall before heading to the Marriott Theatre in Lincolnshire to see one of the best musicals of all time, "South Pacific," featuring LC alumnus and Broadway star Stephen Buntrock (LC Class of 1988).

Tickets are available to all Lincoln College alumni, friends and the general public.

The motor coach will make pickups in Lincoln and Normal. Guests will leave Lincoln around 7:30 a.m. and return around 11:30 p.m.

The cost is $75 and includes deluxe motor coach transportation, snacks on the bus, theater ticket and a brief opportunity to meet Buntrock after the show.

To reserve tickets or for more information, contact the alumni office at 217-732-3155, ext. 217; call toll-free at 877-522-5867; or visit http://www.lincolncollege.edu/alumni/. Additional questions may be emailed to Kerri Taylor at [e-mail].

Tickets will not be available after March 25.

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Atlanta Public Library & Museum present a visit with Michael Rothberg March 25

ATLANTA -- On March 25, the Atlanta Public Library's Worldviews Book Group -- which has been studying the Holocaust this year -- will present a special evening with Michael Rothberg, founder and director of the Holocaust, Genocide and Memory Studies Initiative at the University of Illinois. Rothberg will discuss the importance of preserving memories of the Holocaust and answer questions about the role genocide continues to play in the world today.

The program will be from 7 to 8:30 p.m. at the North Greens Golf Course in Atlanta. It is free.

A professor at the University of Illinois, Rothberg is a well-known teacher and writer, and this program is a rare opportunity for members of the public to meet informally with an expert whose insights into one of the world's most significant events promise to be informative and thought-provoking.

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Atlanta Public Library hosts local city and township candidates

ATLANTA -- The Atlanta Public Library invites the public to attend two public meetings where they can ask questions of candidates running for city and township offices. On March 18, candidates for city council, the library board and the parks board will be available for questions. Township candidates will attend on April 1. Both meetings will be at the North Greens Golf Course from 7 to 8 p.m. The events are free.

On March 18, members of the library board will also be in attendance to answer questions about the library's ballot referendum. Representatives of the rescue squad will attend on April 1 and answer questions about the Logan County Paramedic Association referendum.

While candidates' attendance depends on their availability, the library expects most to participate and encourages the public to take advantage of this important opportunity to learn about candidates' plans for Atlanta in advance of the election on April 9.

Candidates for city offices are Fred Fincham for mayor; Billie Cheek, Matt Clemmons and Bill Moore for city council; Ken Martin for city clerk; and Vickie Martin for city treasurer.

Library board candidates are Randy Brooks, Anne Hieronymus, Karen Horn and Susan Kuhlmyer.

Park board candidates are Doug Thompson and Greg Tucker.

Township candidates are Staci Hieronymus Kong and Jack Renfrow for supervisor; Melanie Blankenship and Julie Tabor for clerk; Daniel Osborn for highway commissioner; and Joe Daugherty, Wesley Green, Alex Hoblit, Julie Osborn, Betty Renfrow and Greg Tucker for trustee.

The public meetings are part of the library's Civic Connections program, which is sponsored by the A-Team.

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Library prepares for new online system

The Lincoln Public Library District will convert to a new online computer database this spring. The library will join 426 other member libraries in the Illinois Heartland Library System and become a member of the new Polaris online database.

The current library database will no longer be available after March 29, and the new database is expected to become operational on April 9.

Patrons who maintain holds or reading lists in the old database are asked to contact the library by March 15 to have that information transferred to the new database.

For more information, contact April Jensen, circulation manager, at 732-8878 or visit the library at 725 Pekin St.

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