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Of the 118 properties being considered
for the historic district, the owners of 67 properties said "yes."
This represented 57 percent of the properties. Since this exceeds
the 51 percent necessary to create the district, the downtown
Lincoln Historic District has been approved.
The next step is a public meeting
to present the district to the community and answer questions
concerning it. The public meeting has been scheduled for Tuesday,
Nov. 19, at 6:30 p.m. in the upstairs council chambers at Lincoln
City Hall.
Monthly meeting nights to change
Because of scheduling conflicts for
some Historic Preservation Commission members, beginning in November
the official monthly meeting will change to the third Tuesday of
every month at 6 p.m.
On Nov. 19, the commission will
meet from 6 until 6:30 p.m., and the public meeting will start at
6:30.
In other business, the commission
continues to research a plaque or medallion that can be affixed to
historic buildings to denote the building as a part of the Lincoln
Historic District. The commission has expressed the desire that the
plaques be unique in shape, unlike any other historic sign in
Lincoln, and that they have a reasonable price tag.
A brochure will also be created to
detail how the district is formed and to allay any concerns that the
commission will be an overreaching government entity, as seems to be
the case in New England historic districts. The Lincoln commission
will not have any say on interior renovations of historic buildings,
nor will it restrict the use of modern, energy-saving windows and
doors.
It was mentioned that Chicago has
numerous historic districts, and it seems to be universally
acknowledged that the historic districts enhance property values.
A new feature instituted by Doolin
for the commission meetings will be time set aside for public
participation.
[By
CURT FOX]
 Lincoln
Christian Church celebrates 30 years of Harvest of Talents this Saturday
Even as the sets from "Joseph and the
Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat" -- a production of Lincoln Christian
Church to benefit the Harvest of Talents -- are being torn down in
the Fellowship Center of the Lincoln church, preparations will be
underway for the auction of the 30th annual Harvest of Talents for
World Hunger. Harvest Week is
beginning, and hundreds of handmade items will make their way to the
Family Room of the church to be tagged and priced in anticipation of
the Saturday event. Staff will be on hand each day from 8 a.m. to 8
p.m. to check in handmade items that will be arriving, not only from
this community but from across the United States and foreign lands.
Carolyn Neal, who chairs the
Harvest of Talents ministry, expressed her delight with the broad
scope of items arriving for the Harvest's 30th celebration.
"We have a lovely hat from England;
fireweed jelly from Alaska; a gorgeous quilt from California;
handbags and hand-painted porcelain from Ohio; purses, totes and
snuggly baby blankets from Wisconsin; necklaces from India and
Africa; recycled treasures from Florida; pretty headbands, both for
children and adults, from Texas; a touching painting from a former
Lincoln resident now based in Bloomington, Ill.; and the list just
goes on and on. Some come from friends and family members and others
from artisans who just want to share their gifts and talents with
the less fortunate."
Sunday afternoon, following a
"working potluck," the Harvest ministry team of some 24 individuals
will begin taping off the floor and setting up a dozen or so booths,
each of which will offer a section of unique handmade items, many
one of a kind. Booths range from the ever-popular Gifts from Around
the World, featuring gifts from mission areas and other countries,
to the traditional Christmas Nook, with a photo op and an origami
booth as well as henna designs and face painting sandwiched in
between.
Other popular areas are Babeland,
Cottage Collectibles, Quilts 'n Cross Stitch, and Critters in My
Garden. Complementing these will be the Sweet Shoppe, offering
candies and snacks, and the ever-popular Yesteryear's Kitchen, which
offers a wide variety of baked goods, jams, jellies, pickles and
mincemeat, as well as gift baskets.
The Fireside Room, adjoining the
Family Room, will offer unique handmade jewelry and one of several
silent auction sites. Also housed in the Fireside Room will be
examples of the workmanship of rug-maker Gene Shepherd, from a rag
rug created for the first Harvest of Talents to a recently hooked
creation.
Harvest Day will offer two meals --
a breakfast featuring homemade cinnamon and caramel pecan rolls and
a luncheon of vegetable soup, prepared in large kettles over an open
fire, along with sandwiches and a variety of homemade pies.
Shopping for handcrafted items will
commence with the 7 a.m. door opening and conclude at 1 p.m., when
displays will close down in preparation for the 2 p.m. auction, the
highlight of the day.
Featured in the auction will be
90-some items, ranging from quilts, comforters and wall hangings, to
fine stitchery, handmade furniture, unique repurposed items,
paintings, photographs, stained-glass pieces, wooden toys,
hand-painted porcelain and other heirloom-quality pieces.
A new area, "Hospitali-tea," will
be featured at the 30th Harvest. This will offer a place of respite
for shoppers or an opportunity to chat with friends in one of
several 30-minute seatings, each of which will feature light
refreshments and hot, fragrant Harvest tea in a quiet, restful area.
At 8:30 a.m. the annual Harvest 5K
Run begins, and from 9 to 11 a.m. there will be special activities
for kindergarten to fourth-grade children.
In Harvest Fare, located outside
the Fellowship Center, a variety of snacks will be available. The
staff of International Disaster Emergency Service, recipient of
Harvest funds, will join the day's festivities by selling walking
tacos. Deep-fried potatoes and hot dogs will be available.
Lincolnberry Café, a specialty shop, will offer scones, snack mixes
and tasty sweet treats, complemented with hot cider, hot chocolate
and flavored coffees. Another feature of Lincolnberry will be tasty
brisket sandwiches.
True Blue, an Elkhart quartet, will
provide entertainment from 10 to 10:45 a.m., and Lincoln resident
Lesleigh Bennett will perform from 11 to 11:45 a.m. Harvest guests
are encouraged to bring along lawn chairs to sit and enjoy the
entertainment and outside refreshments.
The Lincoln Harvest of Talents has
raised over $1,718,000.00 in its first 29 years. International
Disaster Emergency Service, a Christian organization based in
Kempton, Ind., is the recipient of the proceeds. Harvest funds have
been distributed to hunger programs in 21 countries, including the
United States. Harvest of Talents events this year in Illinois,
Indiana, Kansas, Missouri and Tennessee are patterning their efforts
after Lincoln's, with each raising funds to alleviate world hunger.
The public is invited to attend all
of the events of Harvest Day. There is no admission fee, parking is
free, and the facilities are handicapped-accessible. A monitored
coat and parcel check room is available.
The Harvest of Talents for World
Hunger, a unique ministry of Lincoln Christian Church, is an
every-person ministry that calls upon its participants to use their
God-given talents to produce marketable items to be sold to raise
funds to feed the hungry. Every penny raised at the event is
earmarked for hunger needs.
A check representing the proceeds
of the 30th Harvest of Talents will be presented to Rick Jett,
executive director of IDES, in a special service at 10 a.m. Sunday
in the Lincoln Christian University Chapel.
Further information may be obtained
by calling Lincoln Christian Church at 217-732-7618 or emailing
harvestoftalents@comcast.net. For more background, readers may
also visit
www.ides.org/harvestoftalents.html.
Mission
Mart launches refocused Thanksgiving initiative in Lincoln
BLOOMINGTON -- Home Sweet Home
Ministries, which operates the Lincoln Mission Mart, is launching
its 96th year of community outreach at the holidays with a new focus
and expanded efforts. "Give Thanks" is the organization's new brand
for its efforts during Thanksgiving. Home Sweet Home asks people in
the area to join in celebrating the 2013 holiday by sharing their
thankfulness with the hungry and homeless.
In particular, the organization is expanding its emphasis on the
Lincoln and Logan County area through a partnership with Open Arms
Christian Fellowship. The new Home Sweet Home "Turkey Cards" will be
on sale at the Lincoln Mission Mart. Each card can be purchased for
$2, the price of a hot Thanksgiving meal, and 100 percent of the
proceeds will be given to Open Arms to support their work with
feeding the hungry in Lincoln.
"Thanksgiving is the woven into the
fabric of Home Sweet Home," explained Mary Ann Pullin, chief
executive officer of Home Sweet Home Ministries. "Billy Shelper,
founder of Home Sweet Home, opened our doors for the first time on
Thanksgiving Day in 1917. He understood that the hungry in our
community needed to feel that they had a home and a meal to share
with family on this special holiday."
Matt Drat, development and community relations manager, added:
"Home Sweet Home has been part of the Lincoln business community for
quite some time now, and our support of those in need in our
community there is consistent with our desire to be a partner with
those who are reaching out to the hungry and hurting,"
Home Sweet Home has also launched a new website,
www.givethanks2013.org, with information about this year's campaign,
needs and special collection activities.
Home Sweet Home Ministries is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit,
nondenominational Christian organization serving homeless and
low-income individuals and families in the Bloomington-Normal area
since 1917 through a variety of programs. Home Sweet Home operates
the Mission Mart thrift stores in Bloomington and Lincoln. The
organization provides numerous services 24 hours daily, 365 days a
year. For more information, visit
www.hshministries.org.
The 24th Land of Lincoln Honor Flight
SPRINGFIELD -- Land of
Lincoln Honor Flight will honor 16 more World War II veterans and 70
more Korean veterans with a one-day trip to Washington, D.C., on
Tuesday, Oct. 22, to see the World War II Memorial, Korean Memorial, Vietnam
Memorial, Arlington Cemetery, National Air and Space Museum, and
other memorials. If the government is still "shut down," the Air and
Space Museum will be closed. Seventy-six guardians who are
responsible for the veterans' comfort and safety will be on this
24th Land of Lincoln Honor Flight.
Donations and efforts of many
individuals, organizations and businesses have allowed Land of
Lincoln Honor Flight to honor these veterans.
The public is invited to a "welcome
home" ceremony for these WWII and Korean-era veterans when the plane
arrives back at Abraham Lincoln Capital Airport in Springfield at
9:30 p.m. on Tuesday. This is the sixth and last flight for 2013.
Wear red, white and blue to show your appreciation.
Veterans on this flight come from
Arlington, Neb., Bronson, Texas, Junction City, Ore., and from the
Illinois towns of Alton, Auburn, Bloomington, Canton, Cantrall,
Chatham, Cuba, Decatur, Eureka, Girard, Godfrey, Havana, Hillsboro,
Jacksonville, Jerseyville, Kane, Lewistown, Lincoln, Mackinaw,
Manito, Maroa, Meredosia, Morrisonville, Morton, Morton Grove, Mount
Pulaski, Newton, Nokomis, Pana, Paris, Pekin, Peoria, Petersburg,
Pittsfield, Pleasant Plains, Raymond, Riverton, Rushville,
Springfield, Taylorville, Thayer, Vermont, Virden, Waverly and
Winchester.
Trip
applications are still being accepted for the following, but WWII
veterans will be served first:
-
Veterans who enlisted by Dec. 31,
1946 (WWII -- 24 currently on the list)
-
Veterans who served Jan. 1,
1947-Dec. 31, 1957 (Korean era -- 163 currently on the list)
-
Veterans
who served Jan. 1, 1958-May 7, 1975 (199 currently on the list)
The Land of Lincoln Honor Flight board
welcomes the chance to speak to organizations, businesses, churches,
conventions or other groups about the Honor Flight 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, chairman, at
home phone 314-427-2317, cell 217-622-1473 or email
arwiedle@sbcglobal.net.
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column] |
United
Way tailgates toward $130,000 goal
The United Way of Logan County
supports a great many local organizations with financial
contributions. Each year the demand for money for these
organizations grows, and the local United Way works to find the
funding to help as many as possible.
This year, United Way administrator
Marla Blair said her organization needs to raise $130,000 to meet
the needs of its partners in 2014.
Saturday night the organization had
its annual Tailgate party at the Maple Club, just outside of town.
The fundraiser brings dollars into the organization through dinner
ticket sales, a silent auction and a few raffles. It was a packed
house with those who had come to enjoy the tailgate food, good music
and a great time spent with family and friends.
The silent auction offered some
excellent merchandise, and bidders seemed to be plentiful, as there
was seldom a time during the evening that there were not at least a
few wandering through the offerings and adding their names to the
bid sheets.
WLCN radio was on hand early in the
evening with a remote feed. They kept the music flowing until it was
nearly time for the live entertainment to begin.
At the door, guests were invited to
enter a drawing for a new iPad and a raffle for $500 worth of
groceries from Lincoln IGA. At the end of the night, Jan Schacht of
the Lincoln YMCA won the iPad, and Lucas Lamb was the winner of the
groceries.
About an hour or so into the
evening, Gene Frioli of Logan-Mason Rehab offered a few words to the
audience about his group and its involvement with United Way. Frioli
was introduced by United Way board member Chris Cicci, who spent the
evening as emcee.
Frioli told the audience he has had
a relationship with the United Way for over 28 years, when he began
as the administrator of the rehab center. He remembered that his
organization was in dire straits but was denied any funding from the
United Way the first year. He said he believed the United Way wanted
to see just how dedicated he was to his organization and how
dedicated he would become to the United Way. In the end, Frioli
worked his way into the board of the United Way and spent many years
working with and for the organization.
The United Way is now a supporter
of the rehab center, and Frioli thanked them profusely for what they
do for his organization. He talked about how the people he works
with at the rehab center have needs that many people never
encounter. He said the funding from the United Way helps those
people to grow.
Frioli paraphrased a comment made
once by Hubert Humphrey and said: "The true measure of any society
is how it treats those in the dawn of life, children; how it treats
individuals in the dusk of life, the elderly; and how it treats
those who are in the dark of life, that is the poor, the
disadvantaged and the disabled."
Frioli also talked about Dr. Leo
Buscaglia, who was better known by many as "Dr. Love." He quoted
Buscaglia: "Too often we underestimate the power of a touch, a
smile, a kind word, a listening ear, an honest compliment or the
smallest act of caring, all of which have the potential to turn a
life around."
Frioli explained that Buscaglia
began his career in the field of special education, but he
experienced a life-changing event when one of the students at the
university where he taught committed suicide. Afterward, Buscaglia
asked his students if any of them had seen signs of this coming. He
learned that in the group no one really knew the person; no one had
ever made the effort to be a true friend to the student.
This moved Buscaglia to rededicate
his life to encouraging human interaction, and that is how he became
Dr. Love and would go on to speak at many engagements and host a
weekly show promoting the practice of caring for one another.
This is the work that the rehab
center does. It gives the residents and clientele an opportunity to
have real human relationships, friendships that keep the clients
moving in a positive direction in spite of the challenges they have
in their lives.
Frioli thanked the audience and the
United Way for supporting the work of Logan-Mason Rehab.
Immediately following, Cicci and
Blair presented Frioli with a plaque commemorating his lifelong
commitment to helping others.
The rest of the evening was devoted
to good food, good music and good fun. The Maple Club provided the
menu, which included make-your-own pulled pork pitas, make-your-own
soft tacos, brats, coleslaw, potato salad, guacamole dip and chips,
cheese ball with crackers, and a variety of cookies.
At approximately 9 p.m. the silent
auction was closed and winners later announced. The evening ended
with a live band providing entertainment.
On Monday, Blair was pleased with
the way the evening turned out, but she wanted to emphasize that the
money raised is only a small portion of what will be needed for the
2014 year. The United Way needs the support of Logan County
individuals and businesses in order to be able to help those who
need it most. Donating can be as easy as asking your employer to
deduct a specific amount from each payroll check, or dropping off a
one-time donation at the United Way office. The address for the
office is 120 N. McLean St. in Lincoln, or envelopes can be mailed
to the United Way at P.O. Box 684, Lincoln IL 62656.
"With the federal shutdown and
current financial condition of the state of Illinois, it is obvious
we cannot depend on either level of government," Blair said. "The
agencies that receive state and/or federal funding turn to the
community, through the United Way, to continue meeting the needs of
the residents of Logan County."
It is a call for help that she
hopes everyone will hear and respond to. Even the smallest amounts
add up in the end.
Behind
the Scenes returns to Atlanta Public Library beginning Oct. 25
ATLANTA -- The Atlanta Public
Library's popular Behind the Scenes program kicks off Oct. 25.
Presented at the North Greens Golf Course, the series features
prominent artists and other professionals who give audiences an
"inside look" at their lives and careers.
Events begin at 6:30 p.m. with
refreshments and conversation with the speaker, and the program
follows from 7 to 8 p.m. Structured as a dialogue with the visiting
artist or speaker, the events are informal, with lots of time for
questions and interaction.
First up on Oct. 25 is "Baby Animals," a special
presentation of the St. Louis Zoo. Zoo professionals will tell about
how the zoo manages its baby animal populations. Learn the
challenges and secrets of breeding animals in captivity, what
scientists must do to ensure success, what's involved in prenatal
care, how the zoo cares for its baby animals, and much more.
Sorry... no live animals because of the distance, but there will be
lots of pictures and stories about the baby animals who live at the
St. Louis Zoo. Please note that this program is specifically
designed by the zoo as an adult program and is not appropriate for
young children.
On Nov. 22, Behind the
Scenes will feature Dudley Cocke, artistic director of
Roadside Theater and interim director of Appalshop, the
award-winning Appalachian arts and humanities center in Whitesburg,
Ky., of which Roadside is a part.
Roadside Theater is a professional
ensemble that creates and tours original plays about its homeland in
Appalachia. The company is known for its artistic collaborations
with African-American, Native American and Latino theater artists
and for its community residency process that has inspired the
creation of many new theaters across the country. Since 1978, under
Cocke's leadership, Roadside has toured its work in 43 states, with
extended runs off-Broadway in New York City, and has represented the
United States at international festivals in the Czech Republic,
Sweden, England, Denmark and elsewhere.
Recognized nationally and
internationally for creating artistic opportunities and a sense of
pride for people who have not seen their lives reflected in the
mainstream of American cultural institutions, Cocke has a special
affinity for rural America and its stories, and he frequently writes
and speaks publicly about democratic cultural values and achieving
social justice through the arts. In 2002, he received the Heinz
Award for Arts and Humanities.
While he is here, Cocke will also
lead an intergenerational story circle with 15 local residents to
demonstrate how telling stories can strengthen the community and
preserve local history.
In January, the series offers two
exciting events.
First, actor Bob Lupone will
visit on Jan. 10. As a company member at the renowned Circle
Rep in New York and a lifetime member of The Actors Studio, Lupone
worked as a dancer on Broadway, where he performed as the apostle
James on stage and in the film version of "Jesus Christ Superstar."
He also starred in the original production of "A Chorus Line,"
receiving a Tony nomination for his role as Zach.
As an actor, he has performed on
Broadway in "A Thousand Clowns," Sam Shepard's "True West" and
Arthur Miller's "A View from the Bridge." His numerous television
appearances include parts in "Sex and the City," "Law & Order,"
"Gravity" and a recurring role as Dr. Cusamano in "The Sopranos." He
can also be seen in the films "Order of Redemption," "Funny Games,"
"Then She Found Me" and "The Door in the Floor." He received an Emmy
nomination for his work on "All My Children."
On Jan. 31, Behind the
Scenes welcomes two sports figures.
Baseball outfielder Ryan Aper,
who graduated from Lincoln High School in 2011, holds the
single-season hits record and single-season pitching wins record in
the school's history. From 2011 to 2013 he attended Lincoln Land
Community College, where he held the single-season highest batting
average at .462 and was a two-time national junior college
all-American, conference player of the year (2013), regional player
of the year (2013) and national junior college player of the year
(2013). Aper was drafted by the Marlins in the sixth round of the
Major League Baseball draft in June.
Dave Kindred
is a Hall of Fame sports columnist who says he learned everything he
needed to know about sports and writing at Atlanta High School. A
member of the Atlanta Class of 1959, Kindred played baseball and
basketball. After graduating from Illinois Wesleyan University, he
worked at The Pantagraph, the Louisville (Ky.) Courier Journal, the
Washington Post and the Atlanta (Ga.) Journal-Constitution. Now a
senior writer for Golf Digest, he is the author of nine books,
including "Sound and Fury," a dual biography of Muhammad Ali and
Howard Cosell.
Finally, on Feb. 14, Behind
the Scenes will celebrate Valentines' Day with indie
singer-songwriter Brian Davis in a special cabaret evening.
Many may remember Davis from his appearance last year with the band
Something With Trees at the library's September MusicFest.
Davis started playing guitar when
he was 18, deciding shortly afterward that what he really wanted to
do was write songs. He has made two recordings of his work, and over
the past two years he has continued to write and perform. He
performed with Something With Trees in 2011 and 2012, and when the
band split up to pursue individual interests, Davis renewed his
interests in solo work. Using his experience of studying and writing
fiction as his backdrop, he released his latest album, "Lesser
Tragedies," on April 29 under the moniker "A Metropolitan Guide."
Tickets to Behind the Scenes events
are available at the library or at the door on the evening of each
event. Student tickets are offered at a reduced rate, and anyone who
buys tickets to four events or more also receives a discount.
For more information, visit
www.apldinfo.org or call the library at 217-648-2112.
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