Due to hard work and effective leadership, we were able to obtain a $550,000 state grant and a $1.2 million federal grant to start much-needed sewage projects throughout our community. Before we started the project, we created a "Who, What, When, Where and Why" program. The program brings city department heads together with local utility companies and developers to discuss and outline tasks at hand. This ensures that things are done right the first time with minimal expense to the taxpayer.

Cooperation and leadership have also allowed educational and civic expansion and development. We aided in the Lincoln College's recent expansion by helping secure funding at a lower interest rate. Our partnership with Main Street, local veterans and schools has enabled us to celebrate Flag Day in a community-oriented way. We invested time and resources in the District 27 Volunteer Reader and Prairie Partner program by helping students and gardens grow through reading with Lincoln's children.

Working and developing partnerships with our local Congressman LaHood, Senator Madigan, Representative Turner, Logan County Board members, Main Street, the Lincoln/Logan County Chamber of Commerce and government agencies such as IDOT, DCCA and the IEPA has been essential in helping several new business owners get started in our community. We welcome the Central Illinois Carpenters Health and Welfare Trust Fund Facility, Mustard Moon, Precision Products, Staples, Stage, Walgreen's, Jim Moody's Excavating and Hauling, The Movie Gallery, Sheley's Truck Wash, T N T Trucking, Kentucky Fried Chicken, Joe's Pizzeria, Curves, Sun Loans and Integrity Data.

Building these partnerships has also helped many existing businesses expand and grow. These businesses include Medicap Pharmacy, APAC, Fricke-Calvert-Schrader Funeral Home, Wal-Mart, Christian Village, Maple Ridge Care Centre, Prairie Years, Willamette Industries, Family Custom Cleaners, Pizza Hut, Lincoln IGA, Midwest Records Storage, Albert Brothers Services, Taco Bell, D&D Sewage, Illico and Treu Body Works.

I am especially proud that we have been able to reduce corporate taxes as infrastructure has expanded.

In working together we have been able to do a number of great things for our community. We have been able to obtain grants to pay for much-needed mobile data units and bulletproof jackets for our law enforcement officers, and we received a $32,000 grant for our Fire Department to use for hazardous waste equipment. We have assisted the Healthy Communities Partnership by representation and providing funding for the Alcohol, Tobacco, Drug, and Violence Prevention programs.

Progressive leadership and teamwork can make anything possible. In any business, organization or government entity, building partnerships and working with people is essential for achieving our goals and aspirations as we strive to make our community better. There are many more accomplishments that we can list here; our progress keeps growing each and every day.

[Mayor Joan C. Ritter]

More than 190 tickets at $50 each were sold to attendees who feasted on beef tenderloin and holiday red velvet cake prepared by Guzzardo's Catering.

[Melody Shew of MKS Jewelers presents a DeBeer's bracelet to winner Barb Moore]

Early in the evening, ladies were tempted by a DeBeer's "Past-Present-Future" diamond bangle bracelet donated by MKS Jewelers, Ltd.  For $5, a key could be purchased that may or may not open a magical box containing seven more keys for the bracelet box.  Finalists tried their luck again at the end of the evening.  Barbara Moore of Springfield was the lucky winner. Master of ceremonies Terry Bell kept the evening rolling and kidded
attendees about letting loose of their wallets before the bidding began.

And when the bidding began under the guidance of Mount Pulaski auctioneer Mike Maske, it began in earnest, with winning bids totaling more than $5,000.

Winners of live auction items included:

• 7½-foot tree "Santa Claus is Coming to Town!" sponsored by Roger Webster
  Construction, was purchased by Ed Curtis for $500.
• 7½-foot tree "All that Glitters is Gold," sponsored by Abraham Lincoln
  Memorial Hospital, was purchased by Dr. Dennis Carroll for $475.
• 4½-foot tree "Victorian Jewel," sponsored by Graue Pharmacy, was purchased by
  Valecia Crisafulli for $400.
• 4½-foot tree "Let the Good Times Roll," sponsored by Graue Inc., was purchased
  by Terry Brown of State Bank of Lincoln for $350.
• 4½-foot tree "Santa's Workshop," sponsored by Mr. and Mrs. Woody Hester, was purchased by Chris Graue for $300.

• A "Berry Merry Christmas" wreath, sponsored by the Logan County Farm Bureau Women's Committee, was purchased for $300 by Dr. Dennis Carroll.
• The "Last Rose of Summer" wreath, sponsored by the Ulrich family in memory of Dr. Edward Ulrich, was purchased for $350 by Nancy Gehlbach.
• The State Bank of Lincoln purchased the swag "Mystique" for $250. The swag was also sponsored by the State Bank of Lincoln.
• Larry Crisafulli purchased the swag "Southern Christmas," sponsored by Evelyn Madigan, for $425.

• David Sniff paid $375 for a holiday needlepoint work of art entitled "Victorian Christmas" that was created by his wife, Claire Sniff, owner of Claire's Needleworks & Framing.

Three special gift packages, courtesy of several local businesses, also prompted some competitive bidding. Dale Bassi was outbid by Nancy Schaub at $825 for a holiday getaway package to the Chicago Hyatt Hotel.  Pam Johnson paid $300 for the Holiday Home Extravaganza, that included four hours of housecleaning and unlimited carpet cleaning. Mark Graue purchased a holiday makeover package, courtesy of Blades Hair Salon and The Tannery, for $200.

[There were a number of items that could be bid on in a silent auction]

Additional trees, wreaths and swags were sold at a silent auction that continued throughout the evening. A public raffle tree, "Twas the Night Before Christmas," featured an electric train traveling around the middle of the tree.

Wendy Bell, director of Main Street Lincoln, said she was very happy with this year's Festival of Trees. "We are pleased because the event is only 6 years old and is still in its infancy and always growing. Plus, it really is a gift to the community because everyone can come enjoy the beauty of the trees, wreaths and swags for free."

Proceeds will be split between Main Street Lincoln and the Abraham Lincoln Healthcare Foundation.

At the First United Methodist Church you will find holiday cookies by the pound, and crafts. All proceeds benefit Habitat for Humanity.

At St. John United Church of Christ and the First Presbyterian Church you will find unique, well-priced, handmade items that make great gifts. Made by artisans in third-world countries, their sale here will help less fortunate peoples that otherwise are unemployed or underemployed.

The Ten Thousand Villages items range from cheerfully enameled wooden tops, lovely jewel-tone bead jewelry, carvings, toys, wood puzzles, ornaments, marble and soapstone sculptures and such, decorative cloths; an unending array of quality and diverse décor and gift items. Often ethnic flavor is seen in the craft, making it something completely unique. The products come from far away and often not thought of countries such as Ecuador, Bangladesh, Peru, Sri Lanka, Thailand, West Bank, Mexico, Kenya, India and many, many more places that do not have the standard of living that we are blessed with and enjoy.

Alternative Market, like Ten Thousand Villages, sells "global handicrafts" made in underdeveloped third-world countries. It was begun by a woman in the First Presbyterian Church in Normal who wanted to do something about economic justice issues. "It is now an ecumenical ministry," explains the Rev. Paul Gilmore, working through many churches.

A highlight of the event was the unveiling of the life-size Lincoln bust donated to the society by former owners of the North Chicago Street, property, Sandra Sue and Earl Dale Williams of Lincoln. The Williams family owned Lincoln Antiques, which operated at that site from 1979 to 1995. Lincoln impersonator Charles Ott and Diane Coop, representing the Williams family, unveiled the bust.

[At Friday's open house, Charles Ott, Lincoln impersonator, and Diane Coop unveil a life-size bust of Abraham Lincoln that is a gift to the Logan County Genealogical and Historical Society.]

 The Williams family acquired the bust in the 1980s from the Lincoln Wax Museum in Springfield, which had in turn purchased it from the Lincoln Carriage Museum of Petersburg. Documents at the Carriage Museum say the bust was purchased somewhere in the eastern part of the country in the 1950s, but give no record of where it was made or the person or company that made it. It is believed to have been made between 1890 and 1910.

The Chicago Street building was constructed in 1895, the original location of Basket Grocery. After being vacated by Lincoln Antiques, it became an upholstery shop but had been vacant for about a year before the society purchased it. Cash donations, donations of materials, and help in moving and remodeling the interior helped the society make the move to its new quarters.

The society keeps books, newspapers, cemetery records and other research materials pertaining to Logan County and is happy to receive donations of materials that have historic or genealogical interest. They are also looking for volunteers to help with staffing, answering telephone inquiries and doing research.

Holiday Homes on Tour will feature the recently constructed home of Larry and Marcia Howen at 122 Crestwood Drive; as well as the homes of Tom and Susan Boyd, 335 Northgate; Stephen Elkins, 5 Grand Oaks Drive; Mike and Debbie Kilgallin, 1441 1025^th Ave.; and Mark and Linda Searby, 1457 State Route 121. The dollhouse collection of Anita King, 160 Campus View Drive, will also be included in the tour. Anita will be sharing her collection of dollhouses, room boxes and mini-homes dating from the 1920s to 2000, a collection and work in progress for over 45 years.

The Elkins, Kilgallin and Searby homes are all located on the outskirts of the city of Lincoln. Both the Howens and Kilgallins were involved in the design and building of their homes. Family and friends joined the Searbys on July 4, 1999, for a house-blessing service, as they named their property Peacewood Farm. The Howen home is the newest on tour, while the Searby farm has the greatest heritage. The tour of homes will offer a variety of architectures and styles. Family heirlooms and treasures are an integral part of each of the homes.

Part of the tour of the Howen home will be a visit to Mrs. Claus’ Workshop. Here home tour participants will have the opportunity to purchase jellies, candies, nut breads, rolls and snacks. Other holiday offerings will include dolls, stuffed animals, gift baskets, gift bags, potpourri jars and small gifts, as well as Harvest of Talents poetry books and cookbooks.

Tickets are available for a donation and may be purchased from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. at the office of Lincoln Christian Church, 204 McLean St., or from Harvest of Talents ministry team members. Tickets may also be purchased on the tour at each home site.

The 17^th annual Harvest of Talents for World Hunger has to date raised $69,000. The Lincoln harvest proceeds combined with the harvest monies from Milford (Ill.), Council Bluffs, Iowa, and Noblesville, Ind., have totaled over $102,000, all of which is earmarked to meet hunger needs worldwide. Funds from the 2000 harvests have been designated by International Disaster Emergency Service to assist hunger programs in Brazil, Egypt, Haiti, India, Israel, Kenya, Mexico and the Philippines.

International Disaster Emergency Service, a Christian organization based on Kempton, Ind., assists in disaster needs worldwide, including those in this country. Buck Snyder, a member of Lincoln Christian Church, serves on the IDES board of directors.

Pat Snyder, Harvest of Talents founder, expressed thanksgiving and appreciation to the community for their support of the record-breaking 17^th harvest. She pointed out that the proceeds included the sale of 750 bags of South Dakota potatoes, many of which were donated to the Logan County Food Pantry and other area charities.

Proceeds from an ongoing recycling program will be included in the annual total. Aluminum cans may be delivered to 155 Churchill. Those unable to deliver them may call 732-6097 for pickup. Funds received through Dec. 31 will become a part of the millennium harvest total.

To help customers prepare for higher heating bills, CILCO is launching Operation Energy Smart, an extensive information campaign designed to alert customers to the higher prices and to give them information on how to take steps now that can reduce the impact of higher prices later.

Natural gas prices are higher throughout the nation as the result of decreasing production and increasing demand. For CILCO customers, prices are expected to be at least 50 percent higher. For example, a heating bill of $100 last winter is expected to be at least $150 this winter for the same amount of usage. Colder weather will cause bills to be even higher because of increased usage.

Higher natural gas prices do not mean higher profits for CILCO. Profits are only earned on the transportation and distribution of gas. There is no price change for the gas commodity; the price of gas purchased by CILCO is passed on to the customer at the same rate it is purchased.

Linda Nelson, CILCO legislative and public affairs representative, said, "Operation Energy Smart has three objectives. First, we want to alert customers to higher prices. Second, we want to provide information on what customers can do to reduce the impact of those prices. And finally, we want to let customers know about payment plans available from CILCO that might be helpful to them."

Operation Energy Smart will be communicated to customers in a variety of ways, including:

• A bill insert in the September bills provided Energy Smart tips and payment plan information.
• Expanded Energy Smart tips will be available at CILCO’s website, www.cilco.com.
• Advertising will explain the price increases and offer Energy Smart tips.
• An Operation Energy Smart speakers bureau will be available to clubs, organizations and associations.
• Information will be available through home improvement and hardware stores.
• Briefings will be provided for elected officials and community leaders.

• The company’s Customer Advisory Council will be regularly briefed to monitor concerns and recommendations for additional information.

"We don’t want anyone to be surprised when cold weather arrives," Nelson said.

The expected price of gas this winter is about the same as the early 1980s. The price generally declined in the late ’80s and through the first half of the ’90s, although there were significant price spikes in 1990 and 1996.

"For the last three years natural gas prices have been stable," Nelson said. "But natural gas is a commodity, and as such it is subject to the fluctuations of the market’s supply and demand."